The short answer
Before the call, write down what is wrong, when it started and what has changed, and have your medicines, any recent test results and readings such as temperature, blood pressure or blood sugar to hand. Find a quiet, private place with good light and a charged phone, and test your camera and sound. If the problem is a rash, a swelling or a wound, be ready to show it in daylight. Have a pen ready, and before the call ends make sure you know what to do next, what to watch for and when to get help.
See a doctor by videoMedically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Step by step
- 1
Write it down
Note the problem, when it started, your readings and your medicines.
- 2
Find light and quiet
A private room, good light on your face, a charged phone with the camera on.
- 3
Show what matters
Hold a rash, wound or swelling up to the camera in daylight when the doctor asks.
- 4
Leave with a plan
Repeat back what to do, what to watch for, and whether you need a test, a prescription or an examination.
Have the facts ready
A few minutes of notes beforehand makes the call far more useful:
- What the main problem is, when it started, and whether it is getting better or worse
- Your temperature, blood pressure or blood sugar readings, with the times taken
- Every medicine you take, including herbal remedies and anything bought at a chemist
- Allergies, and any long-term conditions such as diabetes, hypertension or sickle cell disease
- Recent test results or scan reports, as photos or files
- For a child: their age, weight, what they have eaten, drunk and passed, and any medicine already given
Set up the call
Use a phone, tablet or computer with the camera and microphone switched on, a steady internet connection and enough charge. Sit somewhere quiet and private, facing a window or a lamp so the doctor can see you clearly. If you are calling for a parent or a child, sit with them so the doctor can see and hear them as well as you. If the video drops, the doctor will try a voice call.
Go to a hospital now, not a call
If, while you wait for the call, you or the person you are calling for develops chest pain, difficulty breathing, sudden weakness of the face or a limb, a fit, confusion or heavy bleeding, go to the nearest emergency department or call 112 instead.
Common questions
Can I send photos before the call?
Have them ready on your phone to show or share during the call. A clear daylight photo of a rash, an eye or a wound often helps the doctor more than the live video.
Can someone join the call with me?
Yes. A family member can help describe what has happened, take notes, or speak for a parent or child, with the patient's agreement.
What if my internet is poor?
Move closer to your router or a window, close other apps, and switch off video on other devices. If the video keeps dropping, the doctor can carry on by voice.
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Sources and further reading
The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- Video consultations. NHS. Patient information.
Links last checked 3 November 2026.
Medical disclaimer: This guide is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. Where your centre's instructions differ from this guide, follow theirs.