Check registration for online health services

How to check if the online healthcare service and the healthcare professionals working there are registered with UK regulators:

All legitimate online healthcare services based in the UK should clearly explain on their websites or apps how they are regulated in the UK, to give you confidence you will receive safe care. This information is usually available on the homepage, on their ‘About us’ page or in frequently asked questions (FAQs).

The healthcare professional who is giving you advice or treatment should give you details of their professional registration including their name and registration number; ask them for these details if they don’t provide them straight away. You can also visit the website of their professional regulator to check the healthcare professional is on their register, or if you want to raise a concern about them.

The following organisations regulate healthcare professionals in the UK:

General Dental Council (GDC)

The GDC registers and regulates dental professionals in the UK.

Check the GDC register

Raise a concern about a dental professional

 

General Medical Council (GMC)

The GMC registers and regulates doctors in the UK.

Check the GMC register

Raise a concern about a doctor

 

General Optical Council (GOC)

The GOC registers and regulates optometrists and dispensing opticians in the UK.

Check the GOC register

Raise a concern about an optometrist or dispensing optician

 

General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

The GPhC registers and regulates pharmacy professionals and registered pharmacies (including online pharmacies) in Great Britain.

Check the GPhC register

Raise a concern about a pharmacy professional

 

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

The Health and Care Professions Council registers and regulates health, social work and psychological professionals in the UK

Check the HCPC register

Raise a concern about a professional registered with the HCPC

 

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

The NMC registers and regulates nurses, midwives and nursing associates in the UK.

Check the NMC register

Raise a concern about a professional registered with the NMC

 

Pharmaceutical Society Northern Ireland (PSNI)

The PSNI regulates pharmacists and pharmacy owners in Northern Ireland.

Check the PSNI register

Raise a concern about a professional registered with the PSNI
 

The following organisations regulate healthcare services (including online healthcare services) or medicines in the UK:

Care Quality Commission (CQC) - www.cqc.org.uk

Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) - www.hiw.org.uk

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) - www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org

Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) - www.rqia.org.uk

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) - www.gov.uk/government/organisations/medicines-and-healthcare-products-regulatory-agency