Dr Thom

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.{{cite web|url=http://doctorpreneurs.com/dr-thom-van-every/ |title=Interview with Dr Thom Van Every, Founder of DrThom |publisher=Doctorpreneurs |date= |accessdate=2013-02-26}} 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.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6212467.stm |title=Health | HIV home screening kit launched |publisher=BBC News |date=2006-12-28 |accessdate=2013-02-26}}

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.” {{cite web|url=http://www.kamcity.com/namnews/asp/newsarticle.asp?newsid=58940 |title=UK: Lloydspharmacy Takes Control Of DrThom |publisher=Kamcity.com |date=2011-03-28 |accessdate=2013-02-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111033053/http://www.kamcity.com/namnews/asp/newsarticle.asp?newsid=58940 |archivedate=2011-11-11 }} The purchase price was not disclosed.{{cite web |url=http://www.retailgazette.co.uk/articles/01331-lloydspharmacy-takes-control-of-drthomcom |title=Lloydspharmacy takes control of DrThom.com |publisher=Retail Gazette |date=2011-03-28 |accessdate=2013-02-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120914135519/http://www.retailgazette.co.uk/articles/01331-lloydspharmacy-takes-control-of-drthomcom |archivedate=2012-09-14 }}

The website employs doctors, who review online assessments filled out by patients. Patient feedback is collected by an independent agency, I Want Great Care.{{cite web |url=http://www.iwantgreatcare.org/en/services/dr-thom |title=iWantGreatCare Reviews of Dr Thom |publisher=Iwantgreatcare.org |accessdate=2013-02-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120802133516/http://www.iwantgreatcare.org/en/services/dr-thom |archivedate=2012-08-02 }}

Dr Thom provides services directly to patients through its own website, and also ‘white labels’ services. Partners past and present included Superdrug, whose online sexual health service {{cite web|url=http://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news-content/-/article_display_list/10808991/superdrug-teams-up-with-drthom-for-sexual-health-service |title=Superdrug teams up with DrThom for sexual health service - Chemist + Druggist |publisher=Chemistanddruggist.co.uk |date=2011-04-07 |accessdate=2013-02-26}} was run by Dr Thom, and the UK's National Health Service, whose erectile dysfunction service based at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is run in conjunction with Dr Thom.{{cite web|url=http://www.ehi.co.uk/news/ehi/3097 |title=E-Health Insider :: DrThom launch 'male health' service online |publisher=Ehi.co.uk |date=2007-10-08 |accessdate=2013-02-26}}

Post sale of the business, Dr Van Every was replaced as Chief Executive of the service by Rachel Carrell{{cite web|author=Collette Devlin |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/6727507/Southlander-heads-British-online-doctor |title=Southlander heads British online doctor |publisher=Stuff.co.nz |date=2012-04-12 |accessdate=2013-02-26}} in 2012. Dr Van Every stepped down and left the business in 2013.

• Ireland: DrThom launched in Ireland in August 2011{{Cite web|date=2011-08-25|title=DrThom.ie: first online GP sets up 'shop' in Ireland|url=http://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/others/drthomie-first-online-gp-sets-up-shop-in-ireland-128380923-238100211.html|access-date=2021-04-13|website=IrishCentral.com|language=en}} and subsequently rebranded as Lloyds Online Doctor in July 2013,{{cite news| url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/irish-women-welcome-online-prescription-service-29403464.html | work=Irish Independent | title=Irish women welcome online prescription service | date=2013-07-08}}{{Cite web|last=Barry|first=Aoife|title=Worry online Pill prescription takes away 'face-to-face' doctor contact|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/online-pill-prescription-ireland-985429-Jul2013/|access-date=2021-04-13|website=TheJournal.ie|language=en}} in line with Celesio's brand alignment programme.{{Cite web|date=|title=Celesio is introducing a new pharmacy concept for the European market|url=http://www.celesio.com/en/Press/Press_releases/Press_releases_group/309934.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608154809/http://www.celesio.com/en/Press/Press_releases/Press_releases_group/309934.html|archive-date=2013-06-08|access-date=2021-04-13}} In August 2013 Lloyds Online Doctor and the Irish Family Planning Association announced the launch of Ireland's first home STI testing kits.{{cite news| url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/lowcost-hometesting-sti-kits-to-be-made-available-in-ireland-29492485.html | work=Irish Independent | title=Low-cost home-testing STI kits to be made available in Ireland | date=2013-08-12}}{{Cite web|last=Bohan|first=Christine|title=Now you can test yourself for STIs in your own home|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/sti-test-in-your-home-ifpa-1033019-Aug2013/|access-date=2021-04-13|website=TheJournal.ie|language=en}}
• Australia: DrThom launched in Australia in June 2013,{{Cite web|date=2013-07-03|title='Worrying' internet script service comes to Oz|url=https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/worrying-internet-script-service-comes-oz|access-date=2021-04-13|website=AusDoc.PLUS|language=en}} in association with Terry White Chemists.

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.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7468745.stm |title=Health | Pill on the web scheme concerns |publisher=BBC News |date=2008-06-23 |accessdate=2013-02-26}} However, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 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 rules, but are ultimately responsible for their own prescribing decisions.{{Cite web|title=Online Doctors (Consultations & Prescriptions) {{!}} Express Med Refills|url=https://www.expressmedrefills.com/|access-date=2021-04-13|website=www.expressmedrefills.com}}

• Private healthcare in the United Kingdom

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://onlinedoctor.lloydspharmacy.com}}

Category:Health care companies of the United Kingdom

Category:British medical websites

Category:Private medicine in the United Kingdom