Proposals to tighten up online prescribing services such as those offered by some pharmacy websites have been backed by Lloydspharmacy.

Lloydspharmacy welcomed the General Medical Council's (GMC) proposals to make it compulsory for online doctors to liaise with patients' GPs, saying it would make it harder for doctors to break guidelines. The GMC said online doctors should ask patient permission to contact their GP before starting treatment and communicate any subsequent information to the doctors.

The GMC also warned online doctors not to discourage patients from sharing information, particularly "if you have a commercial of financial interest in providing care or if you think your patient's general practitioner will discourage them from accepting your treatment".

Tom Brett of Lloydspharmacy's Online Doctor service said he was in favour of a "more prescriptive approach" to online prescribing.

 "Our online doctor service makes clear to patients the importance of informing their GP and we encourage them to ask us to do this on their behalf," Dr Brett told C+D.

However, Dr Brett warned that the proposals should not infringe on patient control, adding: "It is important that the control of such information remains with the patient, who should be able to choose what information is routinely conveyed to their GP."

A consultation on the GMC proposals will run until May 27. To take part go here.