The service – which Well claims is “the country’s first pharmacy-first digital service” – will be initially trialled as a pilot across four GP practices in the Plymouth Sound primary care network (PCN), letting more than 50,000 patients consult a Well pharmacist online.

Patients who access the Push Doctor platform with minor ailment concerns can book an online consultation with a Well pharmacist “at a time that suits them”, the multiple said in a joint press release with Push Doctor published today (February 1).

The service has the potential of freeing up GP appointments “for those with serious or chronic health issues”, the companies added.

If the pilot is successful, more GP surgeries will start offering digital pharmacist consultations and Well expects it will need to recruit more “clinical” pharmacists as the service develops, the multiple said.

In a statement today, Well Pharmacy CEO Seb Hobbs said: “Through this partnership with Push Doctor we will demonstrate the central role pharmacists can play in providing primary care, prompting a shift towards a pharmacy-first patient mindset.

“The partnership provides an amazing opportunity for us to increase patient access to pharmacy services and ensure that they can fully leverage the expertise of these highly trained clinicians.”

Well’s “clinical” pharmacists also collaborate with GPs in Warrington PCN, where they share their expertise to work on “medication reviews, long-term condition reviews and support for discharge letters and regular care home ward rounds”, the multiple said.

C+D has asked Well for more details of the pilot.

Last year, Boots trialled an online pharmacy video consultation service with digital healthcare provider LIVI, following a pilot in two Boots branches. Patients self-isolating due to COVID-19 could access a Boots pharmacist via the LIVI app for a face-to-face chat about their medicines and for general advice, the multiple explained at the time.