// Boots launches Online Doctor via the Boots Health Hub on its ecommerce store
// Prescriptions, treatment and advice can be accessed – with prescriptions available to pick up at a Boots store or delivered
// Almost 100 healthcare services now available online and in store with Boots
Boots has launched an online doctor service that customers can access via its ecommerce store.
The retailer’s new Online Doctor service caters for 45 healthcare conditions – from skin conditions to sexual health and family planning, alongside weight loss support, diabetes testing and menopause treatments.
The Boots Online Doctor services can also provide online consultation and quick access to advice and prescription-only medicine without having to see a GP.
READ MORE:
- Boots UK owner pays £488m to US owner despite Covid-19 impact
- Boots sales drop by nearly a fifth
- Boots to cut 300 jobs at Nottingham head office
The Boots Online Doctor services are available at Boots.com’s Health Hub.
With the addition of the Online Doctor services, Boots said it has almost doubled its range of healthcare and pharmacy services to almost 100.
The retailer added that its latest offering provides convenience to people who would consider private services to access treatment for non-urgent healthcare conditions.
It comes as patients become more accustomed to remote services and increasingly look online first for their healthcare needs following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Notably, over half (54 per cent) of GP appointments were conducted by telephone and video in March 2021.
Additionally, sales of healthcare products overall on Boots’ ecommerce store have more than doubled (up 126 per cent) between March 31 last year and March 31 this year.
“People are increasingly looking online to access healthcare at a time and place that suits them – a trend that has accelerated during the pandemic,” Boots chief pharmacist Marc Donavan said.
“Our expanding range of private digital healthcare services is integral to the work of our pharmacists in stores, who can dispense the medicines prescribed via our Online Doctor service as well as provide expert healthcare advice in person.
“We see a future where patients interact with us digitally and in person in a unique blend that suits their personal preferences.
“Our ambition at Boots is to become everyone’s first port of call for their health – however and whenever they need us.
“We hope that by providing access to both NHS services and private healthcare on the high street or online, we can help to relieve pressure on our NHS.”
Boots’ Online Doctor services require customers to visit onlinedoctor.boots.com to register.
After registering, customers complete an online consultation by answering a series of questions – a process that can take between five to 10 minutes on average.
Patients will find out the outcome of their online consultation between two and 24 hours later depending on the service and, for services where medication is prescribed, they can collect their medicines from any Boots pharmacy in the UK on the same day, or get them delivered to their homes.
They will also receive a video with follow up advice from the clinician authorising their treatment.
Patients will pay for each service as and when they need it on a pay-as-you go model, with prices starting from £15 inclusive of the prescription costs, with the opportunity to earn Boots Advantage Card points on purchases.
Boots said it would look to further expand the services available on its Health Hub in the coming months, and is looking at mental health as its next priority for service expansion.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
