E-med

In the UK, e-med (e-med Private Medical Services Ltd) was the first online health site to offer both diagnosis and prescriptions over the internet to patients.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/841031.stm |title=GP treats patients 'over the internet' |work=BBC News |date=23 July 2000 |access-date=8 March 2025}} It was established in March 2000[https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2000/jun/04/life1.lifemagazine6?INTCMP=SRCH House call – No appointments, no waiting, speedy diagnosis and prescription – online doctors are flourishing. But are they safe?], The Guardian, 4 June 2000 by Dr. Julian Eden, drawing on his remote medicine experience as a doctor serving the world traveller,[http://www.travelhealthzone.com/ask Ask The Doctor] The travel health website for travellers[https://web.archive.org/web/20121103132633/http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/the-obsessive-traveller-703715.html The obsessive traveller] The Independent, 7 January 2001 SCUBA and dive population (between 2002 and 2004, he was The Guardian newspaper's "Flying Doctor").[https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2003/may/10/medicaladvicefortravellers.heathandwellbeing.guardiansaturdaytravelsection?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487 Flying doctor] The Guardian, 10 May 2003

At the time, e-med's instant popularity (with six hundred patients signed up in the first month) was criticised[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/763939.stm Patients flock to net doctors] BBC, 25 May 2000

by the medical establishment, including the BMA (British Medical Association). Dr Paul Cundy, a member of the BMA's IT committee, argued: "When it comes to online consultation or diagnosis, then I think the internet is simply not robust enough. There are no regulations to protect patients, and they are completely and utterly at the mercy of internet doctors."{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/840708.stm |title=BMA wants internet prescribing ban |work=BBC News |date=21 July 2000 |access-date=8 March 2025}}

In 2011, e-med had logged over one million consultations and was serving 500,000 patients worldwide annually.[http://www.e-med.co.uk/what_we_do.html What we do] About e-med e-med was also the first medical practice to use Skype,[http://about.skype.com/press/2008/03/ Skype opens up to net doctor] Skype release March 2008 a videoconferencing service, to conduct "face-to-face" consultations between doctors and patients in different locations.

The model established by e-med and other UK online consulting sites[https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2010-08-07-british-online-doctors_N.htm British websites are pushing boundaries of online medicine]USA Today 8 July 2011, quote: "The British websites are definitely an exception, but they are the start of a trend we will soon see everywhere," Dr. Steinar Pedersen, a founder and special adviser at the Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine. is not only being adopted in other European countries, but also by the UK's state medical service. Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, the medical director of the NHS (National Health Service), mandated the implementation of new plans that would introduce online consultations via Skype, noting that IT will "completely change the way [doctors] deliver medicine".[http://www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/general-coffeehouse-chat-514/news-current-affairs-topical-discussion-12/628933-doctor-will-see-you-now-over-internet.html The doctor will see you now . . . over the internet]The Times quoting Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS Medical Director, 29 August 2011

The website publishes the open access case report journal Grand Rounds.

In 2007, complaints were registered with the General Medical Council (GMC), the body overseeing British doctors, alleging "misprescription of dangerous drugs" by Dr. Julian Eden.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6380135.stm "Internet drug GP suspended by GMC"] BBC News, 20 February 2007. Two of the complaints were made by national newspaper reporters listing false details with e-med[http://www.e-med.co.uk/files/gmc_transcript/transcript_day1.pdf GMC Transcript 1]. GMC Hearing Transcript Day 1, 12 February 2007.[http://www.e-med.co.uk/files/gmc_transcript/transcript_day2.pdf]. GMC Hearing Transcript Day 2, 13 February 2007.[http://www.e-med.co.uk/files/gmc_transcript/transcript_day3.pdf GMC Transcript 3]. GMC Hearing Transcript Day 3, 14 February 2007. and another by Ian van Every, a company director of Dr. Thom.com, a medical website run by his brother, Thomas van Every.[http://www.ehi.co.uk/news/ehi/3097 "DrThom launch 'male health' service online"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829022615/http://www.ehi.co.uk/news/ehi/3097 |date=29 August 2011 }}. EHI Health Insider 8 October 2007. As a result, Eden was removed from the medical register in 2009.{{Cite web|last=Panther|first=Lewis|date=2017-07-15|title=TV doc Hilary Jones slammed as pharmacy he fronts linked to disgraced former GP|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/telly-doc-hilary-jones-slammed-10806516|access-date=2020-06-29|website=Daily Mirror}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140330223828/http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/ NHS Direct] (archived version) – The UK government's medical advice and treatment portal

Category:Health information technology companies

Category:Health care companies established in 2000

Category:Internet properties established in 2000

Category:British medical websites

Category:Medical technology companies of the United Kingdom