Customers will be able to chat with a doctor online.

Boots Ireland are expanding their digital health service and will now be offering their customers online GP consultations as well as repeat prescription services. The pharmacy-led retailer says the move is a direct response to the need for safe and accessible healthcare online. From now on, you'll be able to book an online consultation with a doctor, or request a repeat subscription from the comfort of your home. The consultations are aimed at people who have non-emergency medical issues where in-person treatment is not necessarily required. The news comes after a recent report by the Medical Council found that there has been a five-fold increase in the use of telemedicine in Ireland since the start of the pandemic due to ease of access, cost-effectiveness, minimising physical contact with others and convenience. Customers will be pleased to hear that they can also use the service to order a repeat prescription for a range of health conditions including contraceptive pill and patch, certain infections, cystitis, thrush treatment and more. Commenting on the launch of the Boots Ireland Online Doctor Service, Caoimhe McAuley, Director of Pharmacy and Superintendent Pharmacist, Boots Ireland said: "The launch of the Online Doctor Service at Boots Ireland represents an evolution of the range of services already provided to our customers as we continue to innovate our pharmacy services offering. "While we continue to live with COVID-19, the ability to access a GP from the comfort of your own home has additional benefits in terms of infection prevention and control where it may be preferable not to attend for an in-person GP appointment.  We hope that this service offers greater convenience for our customers.” The service is priced at €35 for a GP video consultation and €25 for a repeat prescription and the cost of dispensed medication is not included. For more information check out the Online Doctor service here.