Hi Alan,
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback.
We are sorry to see that your experience with us has not lived up to your expectations and we would like to understand more so that we can help.
Our Customer Service Team have reached out to you privately to offer you an opportunity to suggest how you feel that we could have improved on this occasion.
We will welcome any feedback you wish to provide.
“The tablets are fine, I have ordered them a few times before. However, during the ordering process, I was informed that to order these the The Independent Pharmacy would have to inform my GP or I could not order them. This is the first time this has happened with anything I have ordered from you. I was contacted by my GP directly afterwards to establish why I needed them and to contact them if I had any issues. I don't see why my GP needs to be informed in this way, when it has not been required before. I won't be ordering again through this method.”
Thank you for your comments, and I completely understand your concerns.
You're right that this step may feel unexpected, especially if it's not something you’ve encountered when ordering in the past.
However, as part of our ongoing commitment to safe and responsible prescribing, we sometimes need to inform your GP when supplying certain medicines — particularly those that may be used regularly or for longer-term needs.
This isn't about limiting access or raising alarms — in most cases, GPs are not concerned by these notifications, and it’s purely a matter of good clinical practice. It ensures everyone involved in your care is aware, which helps avoid duplicate prescribing, missed interactions, or medication overlaps — especially if your GP later prescribes something else.
The General Medical Council (GMC) — which regulates doctors in the UK — actually recommends sharing information with a patient's GP when it's in their best interest and supports safe, joined-up care. This is especially important with prescription medications that could interact with other treatments.
We will always ensure we have your consent to share this information as part of our process of prioritising patient safety and transparency.
