DrThom is a UK-based commercial online doctor service, also operating in Ireland and Australia. It is 100% owned by LloydsPharmacy, which is in turn owned by a leading international wholesale and retail company

McKesson Europe McKesson Europe AG (formerly Celesio AG, previously Gehe AG), with its headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, is a leading international wholesale and retail company and provider of logistics and services in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sec ...

Origin

Dr Thom was founded by Thom Van Every, a sexual health doctor at London’s Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Van Every noticed that many of his patients were embarrassed to see a doctor about their ailments. He founded the service focusing on sexual health, then gradually added services. In 2006, Dr Thom launched the UK’s first home test for HIV, based on saliva rather than the traditional blood test. In August 2009, Lloydspharmacy acquired a 33% stake in the business, and in March 2011 it bought the remaining 67%. At the time, Lloydspharmacy’s Managing Director, Tony Page, said, “Patients love the service - it’s a rapidly growing area of our business.” The purchase price was not disclosed.

Services

The website employs doctors, who review online assessments filled out by patients. Patient feedback is collected by an independent agency, I Want Great Care. Dr Thom provides services directly to patients through its own website, and also ‘white labels’ services. Partners past and present included

Superdrug Superdrug Stores plc (trading as Superdrug) is a health and beauty retailer in the United Kingdom, and the second largest behind Boots UK. The company is owned by A.S. Watson (Health & Beauty UK) Ltd which is part of the A.S. Watson Group. It ...

, whose online sexual health service was run by Dr Thom, and the UK's

National Health Service The National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). Since 1948, they have been funded out of general taxation. There are three systems which are referred to using the " ...

, whose erectile dysfunction service based at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is run in conjunction with Dr Thom. Post sale of the business, Dr Van Every was replaced as Chief Executive of the service by

Rachel Carrell Rachel () was a Bible, Biblical figure, the favorite of Jacob's two wives, and the mother of Joseph (Genesis), Joseph and Benjamin, two of the twelve progenitors of the tribes of Israel. Rachel's father was Laban (Bible), Laban. Her older siste ...

in 2012. Dr Van Every stepped down and left the business in 2013.

International expansion

*Ireland: DrThom launched in Ireland in August 2011 and subsequently rebranded as Lloyds Online Doctor in July 2013, in line with Celesio's brand alignment programme. In August 2013 Lloyds Online Doctor and the Irish Family Planning Association announced the launch of Ireland's first home STI testing kits. *Australia: DrThom launched in Australia in June 2013, in association with

Terry White Chemists TerryWhite Chemmart is an Australian pharmacy retailer owned by the Terry White Group. It is considered to be the largest pharmacy chain in Australia. History Terry and Rhonda White opened their first pharmacy in Woody Point, Queensland, in ...

Controversy

Dr Thom and similar websites have been criticised for enabling access to drugs including the contraceptive pill with no way to confirm that patients are who they say they are. However, the

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) is a professional association based in London, United Kingdom. Its members, including people with and without medical degrees, work in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology, that is ...

have said that for established patients, online suppliers could be safe. The Department of Health has said that doctors practicing in the UK must abide by

General Medical Council The General Medical Council (GMC) is a public body that maintains the official register of medical practitioners within the United Kingdom. Its chief responsibility is to "protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public" by c ...

rules, but are ultimately responsible for their own prescribing decisions.

References

External links