PharmacyOnline.co.uk / Bliss.co.uk (9011378) - Improvement action plan

The pharmacy does not always use appropriate safeguards when prescribing medicines. For example, prescribers sometimes verify people's weight and height during video consultations and they have access to people's summary care records (SCR) to refer to. But they do not conduct video consultations or access SCR for each person. And they regularly use short, real‐time videos for initiating treatment for weight loss medicines without further independent verification of the persons actual weight and height. Prescribers do not perform checks to verify the identity of people when reviewing real‐time videos. The lack of verification with each supply means there may be a risk of inappropriate supplies to people.

Independent verification is based on the level of risk identified, with real-time videos used for every new patient. Identity checks are currently carried out as part of our consultations. Further identity checks will also be performed by prescribers to verify patient’s declared details; including age and sex. These measures shall be subject to periodic review and revised as necessary to ensure alignment with evolving regulatory requirements and professional standards. All processes shall be audited in accordance with the established audit schedule, and risk assessments shall be updated where deemed necessary.