CQC inspects Boots as part of online safety investigations
Boots is one of 39 online healthcare providers being inspected by health regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC), C+D has learned.
In March, the CQC announced a "programme of inspections" into "digital healthcare providers" in the UK, which it said would "prioritise those services it considers as potentially presenting a significant risk to patients".
Ten inspection reports have already been published – the latest being Pharmacy2U on June 29 – with all 39 inspections expected to be completed by autumn, the CQC confirmed to C+D last Friday (July 7).
See a list of the 39 registered providers being investigated by the CQC below.
Boots confirmed to C+D this morning (July 10) that its online services were inspected "a few weeks ago" and it expects to receive the report "in approximately six weeks".
According to the CQC's website, Boots' digital offerings include an online prescription service, and provision of patient group directions (PGDs) to pharmacies across the country. Boots' consultation and treatment services, as well as its remote clinical advice service – which all use doctors – have been subject to a previous CQC inspection in 2014.
Ruth Rankine, CQC deputy chief inspector of general practice, said she would “strongly urge” anyone who wants to use a service from these providers to read the CQC’s “detailed” inspection reports “to help them make an informed decision”.
“CQC works closely with the General Pharmaceutical Council; together with the General Medical Council and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the four regulators are committed to shar[ing] information when necessary,” she added.
The 39 digital healthcare providers being investigated by the CQC
Ada Digital Health
Antrobus Medical Limited
Anytime Medical Limited
Babylon Healthcare Services Limited
Doctor Care Anywhere Limited
Dr Morton’s
Dr Now (Now Healthcare Group Limited)
Escripts Marketing Limited
Expert Health Limited
FMC Marketing Limited
Freedomhealth Ltd
Health Bridge Ltd London
Hexpress Healthcare Ltd
Homeocare Ltd
Icebreaker Medical
Index Medical Limited
iPrimary Care Limited
Medefer Limited
Medical Prescription Services Ltd
MSF Medical Services Limited
Online Clinic (UK) Limited
Postmymeds Limited
PrivateDoc Ltd
Push Doctor Limited
Red Label Medical Limited
SH:24 C.I.C
The Boots Company plc
The GP Service (UK) Ltd
VideoDoc LTD
Yakub Chemist Limited
Doc Reports Limited (iGP) (read C+D's coverage of the inspection here)
Doctor Matt Ltd (read C+D's coverage of the inspection here)
e-med Private Medical Services
Express Dispense Ltd
Frosts Pharmacy Ltd (read C+D's coverage of the inspection here)
HR Healthcare Limited (read C+D's coverage of the inspection here)
Nationwide Pharmacies Ltd
Pharmacy2U Limited
White Pharmacy Ltd (read C+D's coverage of the inspection here)
* MD Direct – which traded through the website assetchemist.co.uk and was one of the first providers to be inspected, on December 13, 2016 – voluntarily cancelled its registration with the CQC, and so is no longer included on the list.
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