Push Doctor

Push Doctor
Type of site
 Private
Founded 2013
Headquarters Manchester, United Kingdom
Key people Matt Elcock, founders
Industry Healthcare
Website pushdoctor.co.uk
Native client(s) on iOS, Android, Windows

Push Doctor is an online medical consultation service headquartered in Manchester, United Kingdom. The service currently has over 7,000 General Medical Council-registered general practitioners available and connects users to a GP for a secure online video consultation for a fee of £30.[1] The service is accessed via computer or a number of mobile or tablet apps. Following a consultation, users can be referred, provided with a "fit note" or issued with a prescription for medication.[2][3]

Push Doctor is a HIPAA-compliant NHS-commissioned technology provider.[4]

History

The service was founded in July 2013 by Eren Ozagir and Matt Elcock. The idea came to Ozagir after falling ill on a business trip to Baltimore in the United States.[3][5] Push Doctor initially received $1.2 million in seed funding and in mid-2015 a nationwide television campaign aired to promote the service to new users.

In January 2016 Push Doctor raised $8.2m Series A funding lead by Oxford Capital, Draper Esprit and Partech Ventures.[6] Reports suggest the investment would be used to "strengthen brand position, carry out further product innovations, expand the management structure, including making key marketing and product hires".[6]

In September 2016 the service underwent a rebrand that included a new logo, revamped website, an updated iOS app and a new Android app.[7] In October 2016 SuperGroup chief operating officer Susanne Given joined the company as the non-executive chair.[8]

In July 2017 Push Doctor raised a further $26.1m in Series B funding, taking the company's total funding to $37.5m.[9] In August 2017 Push Doctor introduced a £500 medical student grant, which is open to medical students at any UK university from their second year onwards. Ozagir said the move would "help the next generation of home-grown doctors get off to the best possible start."[10] In August 2018 Eren Ozagir stepped down as CEO of Push Doctor but remains a shareholder.

The Modality Partnership started to offer online consultations using Push Doctor to more than 99,000 patients across six of the Modality practices in September 2018. If this is successful it will be extended to all their 400,000 patients.[11]

Market research

A study commissioned by the company found that 11% of the UK population resorted to searching the internet to diagnose health issues when unable to see a National Health Service GP.[12] A survey commissioned by the company in March 2016 was reported as showing that 62% of respondents had used a smartphone or computer for GP services including ordering repeat prescriptions, accessing medical records and even Skype-style video appointments with a doctor; 29% had ordered repeat prescriptions online, while nearly a fifth have had a video appointment with a GP. A further 25% were said to be prepared to consider a video consultation if they could have a same-day appointment.[13]

Criticisms

In June 2017 it was condemned by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as it was found not to be safe, effective or well-led. The inspectors found it was prescribing high-risk medicines to patients without performing proper checks, and in at least one case was prescribing drugs for uses beyond their licenses. However, the inspection did also note that Push Doctor was providing a caring and responsive service, "in accordance with the relevant regulations". Push Doctor CEO Eren Ozagir claimed that there were factual inaccuracies in the reports and that guidelines against which they were inspected against were completely new.[14] Push Doctor failed a CQC inspection in November 2017 due to inadequate checks of users' ages and identities.[15]

The Advertising Standards Authority condemned a number of advertisements in April 2018 because they "misleadingly implied the advertised service was provided by the NHS and, as a result, that it was misleading because it did not make clear a cost was associated with the service." The ASA also said that the company practice of putting reviews on its website but omitting any that were unfavourable was misleading.[16]

In July 2018 it was reported that Nicola Blackwood, the former minister for public health and innovation, had joined Push Doctor's advisory board. On reviewing the former MP's new role, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments stated there was "some risk around the potential for [Blackwood] offering the company an unfair advantage as a result of her time in office".[15]

References

  1. ↑ "The digital doctor will see you now... 7 days a week". Mail Online. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  2. ↑ Strick, Katie. "Beat the queue: here's how smartphone apps are replacing your trips to the GP". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  3. 1 2 Gaskin, James. "Top 10 tech startups maturing in Manchester". Geektime. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  4. ↑ Bryant, Martin. "Push Doctor could get the UK used to paying for healthcare". The Next Web. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  5. ↑ Hargrave, Sean. "The doctor will see you online now". Guardian. Retrieved 2016-07-15.
  6. 1 2 O'Hear, Steve. "PushDoctor, The U.K. Video-Based Doctor Service, Scores $8.2M Series A". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  7. ↑ Begum, Shelina. "Rebrand for Push Doctor as it introduces new services". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  8. ↑ Owen, Vicki. "Former SuperGroup boss set to pep up online GP service Push Doctor". This is Money. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
  9. ↑ Shead, Sam. "An app that allows you to see a doctor in minutes has been backed with $26.1 million". Business Insider. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
  10. ↑ Wei, Amy. "Push Doctor launches grant for medical students". The Mancunion. Retrieved 2017-08-11.
  11. ↑ "Major GP provider partners with Push Doctor app". Health Service Journal. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  12. ↑ "People In Essex Are Googling Chlamydia More Than Anywhere Else". The Huffington Post UK. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  13. ↑ "Sick of waiting? The doctor will Skype you now as 'digital health revolution' sees patients choose internet over GPs". Daily Mail. 12 March 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  14. ↑ "CQC rates one in four online primary care services as unsafe". GP Online. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  15. 1 2 "Pushing it". Private Eye. London: Pressdram Ltd. 27 July 2018.
  16. ↑ "Online consultancy Push Doctor has adverts banned for implying links to the NHS". Independent. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
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