We specialise in pharmacy web development that is not only expertly designed, but fully compliant with CQC and GPhC requirements. If you run a pharmacy offering clinical or private services, having a website is a must, but it is also crucial to ensure that it’s compliant with CQC (Care Quality Commission) standards.
While CQC doesn’t regulate retail pharmacies offering standard NHS prescriptions, it does regulate pharmacies providing online consultations, prescribing, and private services like travel vaccinations, weight loss treatments, and aesthetics.
If your pharmacy falls into this category, your website needs to meet specific criteria, or you risk being flagged and penalised during inspections. Here’s what makes a pharmacy website CQC-compliant.
Clear and accurate information about the provider
CQC requires full transparency about who is delivering the service. Your website must clearly display:
- Name of the service provider (e.g., your limited company name or trading name)
- CQC registration number
- Registered manager’s name (if applicable)
- Full contact details, including phone number, email, and business address
- Details of clinical staff, including qualifications and registration numbers with relevant professional bodies (e.g., GPhC, GMC)
Patients need to know who is providing the care and that they’re properly qualified.
Safe prescribing and clear service descriptions
If your pharmacy offers private prescribing (e.g., weight loss treatments or ED medication), your website must demonstrate that the prescribing process is safe and follows guidelines. Ensure you:
- Explain how the consultation works — e.g., “You will complete a health questionnaire reviewed by a pharmacist before issuing any medication.”
- Include clear service descriptions with eligibility, risks, and what to expect.
- Avoid misleading language — steer clear of “quick fix” terms or guarantees.
- The website should never pressure a patient into treatment or over-sell a service.
Robust consent and patient communication
Patients need to give informed consent before receiving treatment or advice. That means:
- Providing clear terms and conditions and a privacy policy.
- Explaining how personal and medical data will be stored and used (following GDPR).
- Offering the chance to ask questions before agreeing to treatment.
- Using secure online forms or systems to collect patient information safely.
Accessibility and language
To meet CQC expectations on equality and patient-centred care, your website should be:
- Easy to navigate for all users, including those with disabilities.
- Written in clear, simple English, avoiding jargon where possible.
- Offering language or accessibility options, where appropriate, to ensure all patients can understand the services provided.
Complaints and feedback
You must make it easy for patients to raise concerns. You site should include:
- A visible complaints process on your website.
- A way to contact the pharmacy directly.
- A statement about how you handle complaints and how long responses typically take.
Your pharmacy website is a regulated point of care, as well as serving your marketing strategy. A CQC-compliant website builds trust, ensures patient safety, and keeps your pharmacy on the right side of the law.