Fears have been raised that GPs are prescribing drugs without a proper check-up JULIEN BEHAL/PAA doctor has called for more regulation of internet GP services after a report in the UK found that 43 per cent were not providing safe care. Ray Walley, former president of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), said that the growing availability of online consultations had the potential to “destabilise” general practice in Ireland. He has called on the Department of Health and the Irish Medical Council to scrutinise online services available in Ireland. An inspection by the Care Quality Commission in the UK found that 15 of the 35 online health providers it inspected were not providing safe care. It found evidence of inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics and opioid-based medicines without talking to the patient’s registered GP, and identified unsatisfactory approaches to safeguarding children…

Source: The Times April 02, 2018 22:52 UTC