This week, Asda Pharmacy at the Stevenage Supercentre in Herefordshire has launched free on-demand GP consultations in store.

The virtual appointments will be held on a computer connected to a stethoscope, Medicam, pulse oximeter, blood pressure monitor and contactless thermometer, so that patient readings can be shared with the GP and diagnoses can be made accordingly.

The new service will be free to customers until Saturday 4 July. After this, the price will be £49 for a service that includes issuing a prescription and sick note, if needed.

Faisal Tuddy, Superintendent Pharmacist at Asda, welcomed the new service: ‘This is an exciting trial at our Stevenage store which will allow customers to access an immediate appointment with a GP, including writing a prescription and collecting the medication from the Asda Pharmacy – all under one roof, and at a time when our customers are particularly interested in a contact-free service.’

The remote examination service, which hopes to reduce the spread of coronavirus by limiting patient-doctor contact, has been created by tech firm Medicspot. It is currently available in over 300 pharmacies across the UK, as well as a number of NHS GP surgeries and care homes.

Dr Zubair Ahmed, from Medicspot, said: ‘We are thrilled to partner with Asda to offer this service at the Asda Stevenage Supercentre.

‘It's essential that patients receive more convenient healthcare to improve patient outcomes and we are excited to be partnering with Asda who share our vision of improving the health of patients by providing easier access.’