Boots UK on Thursday (16) announced a new partnership with digital healthcare provider LIVI to strengthen its digital pharmacy services.
The existing Boots UK and LIVI collaboration of in-store services is expanding as trial of a new online GP and pharmacy video consultation service begins.
The trial has been brought forward to assist patients isolating due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Richard Bradley, Director of Pharmacy for Boots UK, said: “With millions of patients self-isolating at home – particularly the elderly or those with underlying health conditions – access to expert health advice without having travel to a pharmacy or GP surgery is even more crucial.
“We are pleased to work with innovators like LIVI to continue transforming online and high street access to healthcare advice, medical services and medicines.”
The companies are working together through approved and regulated routes to trial how patients could remotely access a Boots pharmacist via the LIVI app, to get general health advice and to have a conversation face-to-face about their own prescription medications.
This service has the potential to help reduce pressure on the NHS, ensuring that customers maintain simple and safe access to healthcare whilst at home.
The partnership will also see a future expansion of the successful in-store pilot to several new Boots UK stores – the majority of which will deliver NHS commissioned services – in high street locations throughout the country.
Juliet Bauer, UK Managing Director, LIVI, said: “Boots UK shares our ethos that the health system should be responsive to the needs of patients. By tapping into our digital health tech, millions of Boots UK customers will be able to access a more responsive and flexible health service.”
The long-term agreement follows the successful pilot programme in two Boots stores from October 2019. These stores will offer the LIVI video GP service via a tablet in-store, as well as a range of diagnostic tools, such as blood pressure monitoring.
