Manchester medtech firm ‘first in its field’ to pass CQC inspection

Manchester-based medtech firm ‘first digital health provider in its field’ to pass CQC inspection

Now Healthcare Group (NHG) has become the first UK telehealth (mHealth) GP service provider to receive the thumbs up from Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The Manchester-based digital healthcare firm was declared ‘safe’ after meeting all regulations set out under the CQC’s new digital health reporting guidelines.

Following a June inspection, NHG was found to meet all the necessary criteria across five categories, with the CQC labelling the company’s services safe, effective, caring, responsive to people’s needs and well-led.

The accreditation, NHG said, makes it the first provider in its field to achieve a ‘five out of five’ score.

NHG is the company behind the Dr Now and Now GP international mobile apps, which use video call technology to connect users with qualified NHS doctors and deliver medicines to patients’ doors.

Together the services boast 2m users, but that figure is expected to hit 20m by the end of 2017.

The company has worked with the NHS for the last two years, servicing more than 100k repeat prescriptions nationwide. In June, NHG secured a £4m minority investment from health cash plan provider Medicash.

Lee Dentith, CEO and founder of Now Healthcare Group, said: “I am delighted that Now Healthcare Group has become the first digital health provider in its field to receive a ‘five out of five’ report from the CQC.

:It demonstrates the incredible progress we are making as a healthcare provider and I would like to thank our team for their incredible hard work and dedication that has made this achievement possible.“

He continued: “At a time when patient safety and digital health services are under high levels of scrutiny, it’s an incredible achievement to be the first telehealth GP service to be found to be meeting all necessary requirements.

“Hopefully this demonstrates to our public and private clients and partners that they are working with the UK’s most reputable provider and the clear industry-leader in this field.”

Now Healthcare Group’s head of operations, Janet Smith, commented: “We’re thrilled that we have been recognised by the CQC as the first telehealth service to be meeting all regulations. It’s an accolade which demonstrates Now Healthcare Group’s continued hard work and commitment and shows what can be achieved when you put the patient at the forefront of everything that you do.”

In September, NHG will release its new NHS-supplied services platform, which can be accessed by over 15m people in the UK.

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