Irish women are frustrated with the cost and inconvenience of visiting a doctor’s surgery to renew their prescription for the oral contraceptive pill, according to new research by Lloyd’s Online Doctor as the new online prescription service launched in Ireland today.

The study revealed that women often find it difficult to make appointments during the working week due to their busy schedules and consider attending the GP surgery a hindrance on their time.

“Women in Ireland spend up to €250 a year on oral contraception, almost half of which is spent on doctors’ fees to renew their prescription. A visit to a GP can range anywhere between €40 - €70 Lloyds Online Doctor offers women a reliable, cost effective solution to their contraceptive needs and its convenience is complementary to demanding schedules," says Dr Christina Hennessey, doctor and Service Development Clinician with Lloyds Online Doctor.

The study, conducted by Behaviour and Attitudes 1, found that many viewed a charge of €40 to €70 for a repeat prescription as excessive, given the reoccurring need for contraceptive.

In line with this demand for convenient and quality healthcare, Lloyds Online Doctor launched its new service in Ireland today. It offers online prescription renewal for the oral contraceptive pill and is committed to ensuring that obtaining the pill is convenient and easily accessible for Irish women.

“We are very excited about the launch of our service in Ireland today. With Lloyds Online Doctor, there is no need to wait for an appointment, queue in a busy surgery or miss time from work just to renew your prescription. You can now order from the comfort of your own home, at the office or even on the move,” explains Dr Tom Brett, Medical Director.

The service allows you to order a prescription for a six month course of your current contraceptive pill by simply completing a confidential online assessment. Within one working day an Irish registered doctor will assess your request and, assuming the necessary criteria are met, will post a prescription directly to your door, which you can fulfil at a pharmacy of your choice.

To register, please visit LloydsOnlineDoctor.ie. A voucher code for a complimentary consultation for a repeat prescription is available from www.facebook.com/Lloydsonlinedoctor and @LloydsOnlineDoc.

For more information please see https://www.lloydsonlinedoctor.ie/

*A fee of €1 will be charged for registration