The Independent Pharmacy is a Bristol-based online pharmacy and online doctor service operated by ABSM Healthcare Ltd. Its main model is a one-off order following a confidential online consultation, although its terms also allow recurring subscription goods. This review checks the provider’s published regulation, ownership, prescribing and delivery information. We have not placed an order.
Service model
A customer completes a consultation that is reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor or pharmacist independent prescriber. The prescribing service is provided through sister company Red Label Medical Ltd. If more information is needed, the prescriber can contact the customer by telephone or email before deciding whether treatment is suitable.
The service is usually presented as pay-per-order rather than subscription-first. Its terms nevertheless include recurring subscription goods, with payment taken before dispatch and cancellation managed through the customer account. Check which billing model applies to the item selected.
Registration and ownership
The Independent Pharmacy is owned and operated by ABSM Healthcare Ltd, company number 08515600. Its terms publish GPhC pharmacy registration 9012559 and name Andy Boysan as Superintendent Pharmacist, GPhC registration 2047716. The provider also publishes a second premises registration and CQC information for its connected services.
The split between pharmacy ownership and prescribing through Red Label Medical Ltd is important. It is a normal kind of operating structure in online healthcare, but it means the brand name alone does not describe every legal entity involved in the service.
Fees and billing
The consultation is described as free, with the customer paying for the selected order and delivery where applicable. Prices differ by treatment and pack size. The site should be compared on the final checkout total and billing model rather than a single starting price.
Delivery
The Independent Pharmacy publishes several delivery options and says orders approved before its cut-off may be dispatched the same day. Its terms make clear that delivery dates are estimates, not guarantees, and that charges depend on the selected service and address.
What we could not verify by inspection
We have not tested clinical response times, same-day dispatch, packaging, customer support or subscription cancellation. We also have not checked whether every displayed product was in stock. The current consultation, delivery and cancellation terms should be confirmed before payment.
Our view
The Independent Pharmacy publishes detailed ownership and regulatory information and offers a predominantly one-off route that may appeal to people avoiding a subscription-led clinic. The connected-company structure is more complex than the branding suggests, but it is disclosed in the provider’s own terms and can be checked directly.
For other one-off models, see our e-Surgery review, Oxford Online Pharmacy review and the non-affiliate Dr Fox review.