Clinical governance at HerDoc

Doctors remain responsible for assessment, clinical judgement, advice, prescribing decisions, referrals, certificates, and escalation guidance. Software may support information collection, preparation, documentation, or follow-up workflows, but it does not replace the GP’s decision-making role.

HerDoc public pages should describe possible pathways without implying that a request will lead to a fixed outcome.

Telehealth may be suitable for some non-emergency GP concerns, follow-up questions, medication review consultations, pathology discussions, certificates, and women’s health questions. It is not suitable for emergencies or situations where online assessment would be unsafe.

A GP may recommend in-person care, urgent care, local testing, or another pathway if symptoms, risk factors, or available information make online care unsuitable.

Technology can help organise patient-provided information and support administrative workflows. It should not be presented as diagnosing patients, deciding treatment, replacing a doctor, or guaranteeing outcomes.

Any AI-assisted workflow should remain subject to doctor review, privacy controls, auditability, and patient-safety safeguards.

HerDoc directs patients to 000, an emergency department, or urgent local care for severe, sudden, rapidly worsening, or dangerous symptoms. Public pages should keep this advice prominent where medical topics are discussed.

Patients should be able to raise concerns through the published contact pathway. Complaints involving clinical safety, privacy, billing, or service quality should be reviewed through an appropriate internal process and escalated where required.