Digital provider Pharmacy 2U given ‘good’ CQC rating

An online pharmacy has been awarded a ‘good’ rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after having previously been rated unsafe, poorly-led and ineffective.

Pharmacy 2U operates an online clinic for patients providing consultations, prescriptions and medicines.

Its latest CQC report, published on 27 June, rates the service ‘good’ in all areas, following an inspection in May 2019.

In particular, the service was recognised for having “a range of risk assessments to improve patient safety”, with the CQC also stating that “doctors prescribed and delivered care in a safe and effective way, supported by protocols and pathways based on national guidance”.

Areas of improvement were clinical audit – including the review of consultations – to support quality improvement and a consideration of recording all incidents rather than just significant events to increase  learning opportunities.

The latest inspection suggests progress has been made by Pharmacy 2U since it was reviewed by the CQC in 2017, when issues were found with the digital healthcare provider’s patient identification, prescriptions and asthma care procedures.