Now Healthcare Group has become the UK’s first and only ‘telehealth’ GP service to be declared “safe” by digital health reporting guidelines set by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Following an inspection on June 14, the firm met all regulations set across five categories, and was deemed to provide safe, effective, caring and responsive services.
It makes NHG the first in its field to achieve five-out-of-five under the CQC’s new digital methodology and guidelines for digital health providers, which were newly established earlier this year.
CEO and founder Lee Dentith, said: “[This] demonstrates the incredible progress we are making as a healthcare provider and I would like to thank our team for their incredible hard work and dedication that has made this achievement possible.
“At a time when patient safety and digital health services are under high levels of scrutiny, it’s an incredible achievement to be the first telehealth GP service to be found to be meeting all necessary requirements.
“Hopefully this demonstrates to our public and private clients and partners that they are working with the UK’s most reputable provider and the clear industry-leader in this field.”
Now Healthcare Group is known for its Dr Now and Now GP international mobile apps, which connect users to qualified NHS doctors remotely via video call and deliver medicines directly to the patient’s door.
The services currently service two million users, growing to up to 20m by the end of 2017.
The company has been working with the NHS for the past two years, servicing over 100,000 repeat prescriptions nationwide and is soon to release its new ground-breaking NHS supplied services platform which can be accessed by over 15 million people in the UK.
Head of operations at Now Healthcare Group Janet Smith said: “We’re thrilled that we have been recognised by the CQC as the first telehealth service to be meeting all regulations.
“It’s an accolade which demonstrates Now Healthcare Group’s continued hard work and commitment and shows what can be achieved when you put the patient at the forefront of everything that you do.”