The Department of Health and Social Care has granted the Care Quality Commission further powers to rate independent healthcare providers, such as those that offer medical advice and prescriptions from GPs online.

The new powers do not include community pharmacy websites (pharmacy regulation falls under the GPhC) unless the site provides GP consultation services, which are covered by the CQC.

Examples of independent community healthcare include health visitor services, community nursing, sexual health clinics and small in-patient units. ‘Independent doctors’ services include providers that offer healthcare (such as medical advice and prescriptions from a GP) online or digitally.

There are currently more than 30 providers in England registered with CQC that offer primary care online or digitally, including online pharmacy service providers such as Oxford Online Pharmacy, Pharmacy2U, The Boots Co and Nationwide Pharmacies.