Updated 12 August 2019
The GP Service (UK) Limited launched its online service in February 2017. It was previously based in central London. The service has been registered at the current location in Coventry since July 2018.
Patients from anywhere in the UK can consult with GPs via online assessment questionnaires and through secure video calling. The operating model of the service enables any medicines prescribed following consultations, to be available for collection through independent pharmacies signed up to the GP Service (UK) Limited scheme, or a pharmacy of the patient’s choice if they prefer.
We inspected The GP Service (UK) Limited at the following address from where the provider is registered to provide services:
The Technocentre, Coventry University, Coventry, West Midlands, CV1 2TT
The service is led by a chief executive officer (CEO) and supported by a leadership team of four, which includes medical, technological and sales expertise. There are six GPs who carry out the online consultations remotely.
A registered manager is in place. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons.’ Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
How we inspected this service
Before the inspection we gathered and reviewed information from the provider. During this inspection we spoke with the registered manager and members of the management and administration team.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we ask the following five questions:
• Is it safe?
• Is it effective?
• Is it caring?
• Is it responsive to people’s needs?
• Is it well-led?
These questions therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.