FREE Medication Check Ups
Sometimes, making small changes to the way you take your medicines can help them work better.
If you take two or more medicines for the same condition, a free NHS Medicines Check Up Service can make sure you’re getting the best from them.
The Medicines Check Up is a FREE NHS service conducted by your pharmacist, which can help you make sure you’re getting the most from your medicines and understand as much as possible about your condition to help you manage it as best you can.
So, for example, if you have asthma or high blood pressure, you might have been prescribed several medicines to help, and may have questions you would like to ask about them.
Firstly, talk to your pharmacist to see if you are eligible for the NHS Medicines Check Up service. If so, you will have an informal, confidential consultation with the pharmacist in the consultation room. This should only take around 10 minutes and could be while you are waiting for your medicines to be dispensed.
Taking Medicines: How To Take Your Medication
The pharmacist will ask if you have any questions or concerns about your medicines. For example, you might like to know
- What is each of my medicines doing for me?
- What’s the best time of day to take them?
- Do I need to avoid any other medicines that I can buy over-the-counter?
- How long will I need to take them for?
- How can I control or minimise any side-effects?
- Medicine Check Up: What happens next?
We hope that the Medicines Check Up will help you understand more about your condition, and how to help your medicines work for you in the best way possible.
If the pharmacist feels you would benefit from going back to see your doctor for a review, they may recommend this.
Medication For Long-Term Conditions
If you are taking medicines for a longer-term condition, it may be useful to consider the FREE Repeat Prescription Service, which is available either in store, or online. Quick and easy to set up, it takes away the need to revisit your surgery every time you need a new prescription and we will make sure your medicines are ready when you need them. We’ll also let you know when your doctor needs to see you for a review.
If you are prescribed a medicine to treat a long-term condition for the first time...
You may be able to get extra help and advice about your medicine from your local pharmacist through a new free scheme called the New Medicine Service (NMS). People often have problems when they start a new medicine. In this scheme the pharmacist will support you over several weeks to use the medicine safely and to best effect. You are eligible for this service if you the new medication is for Asthma, COPD, Type 2 Diabetes, High Blood Pressure or a blood thinning medication.
