Archived: MedicSpot HQ Victoria

Updated 27 November 2019

MedicSpot provides patients with an online video-linked GP service. The GPs work remotely providing pre-booked video consultations for patients via clinical stations based in private rooms within selected participating pharmacies. Patients are able to book video consultation appointments online via the provider website; www.medicspot.co.uk. The video consultation allows the doctor to see and speak to the patient via a video link through a clinical station at the selected pharmacy. The clinical stations comprise of a computer and an equipment tower which includes a blood pressure machine; a stethoscope (to listen to the heart and lungs); an otoscope (to look into the ears); a pulse oximeter (to measure oxygen levels and pulse rate); and a thermometer. Instruction is provided for patients on how to use this equipment and the consulting doctor then has access to the readings from this equipment.

The video consultations can be booked between 9am and 9pm daily dependent on the opening times of the participating pharmacies and the availability of the GP appointments. Access via the website to book a consultation is available 24 hours a day.

At our previous inspection on 30 November 2017 the MedicSpot headquarters were based at 93 Elizabeth Court, 1 Palgrave Gardens, London, NW1 6EJ. At the time of this inspection the provider had relocated its headquarters and was now based at 6 Lower Belgrave Street, London, SW1W 0LJ.

How we inspected this service This inspection was carried out on 19 September 2019; the inspection team consisted of a CQC Lead Inspector, GP Specialist Advisor and a member of the CQC medicines team. Before the inspection we gathered and reviewed information from the provider. During the inspection we spoke to 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.

Updated 27 November 2019

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at MedicSpot HQ on 19 September 2019 as part of our rated inspection programme. We previously inspected this service on 30 November 2017 using our previous methodology, and found the service was compliant with the relevant regulations. At that inspection, we did not apply ratings.

MedicSpot HQ offers an online doctor service providing both pre-booked and walk-in video consultation appointments for patients at clinical stations based within pharmacies.

At this inspection we found:

• The service had good systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When they did happen, the service learned from them and improved their processes.
• The service routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
• Staff involved and treated people with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• Patients could access care and treatment from the service within an appropriate timescale for their needs.
• There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP