NHS New Medicine Service

The NHS New Medicine Service is a free NHS service offered through your pharmacy which helps you understand your condition and get the most out of your new medicine.

Who is the NHS New Medicine Service for?

The service is for people who have received a prescription for a new medicine to treat any of the following conditions. Find out more about them on BootsWebMD.com:

• Asthma
• Respiratory conditions such as chronic bronchitis
• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Conditions where you take a medicine to control the way your blood clots.

Offered by pharmacists: How will the NHS New Medicine Service help me?

The NHS New Medicine Service* will help make sure your medicines are right for you.

The NHS New Medicine Service will:

• Help you to find out more about the new medicine you are taking.
• Help sort out any problems you are having with your new medicine.
• Give you a chance to ask questions about your medicines and discuss any concerns.
• Help improve the effectiveness of your new medicine. For example, there may be an easier or better way to take it.
• Help you to make your own decisions about managing your condition.
• Help you improve your health.

Preparing for your discussions with your pharmacist

• Read the leaflet that comes with your new medicine.
• Make a note of questions you want to ask about your new medicine.
• Make a note of any concerns about your new medicine you may wish to discuss with your pharmacist.
• Bring your new medicine to the meeting with your pharmacist.
• Visit BootsWebMD.com where you can access lots of useful information about a wide range or healthcare topics and free e-newsletters on specific medicines and conditions like diabetes, asthma and heart health.

Talking to a pharmacist: how the NHS New Medicine Service works

Talking to a pharmacist: Step one

Your pharmacist will give you information about your new medicine. You will need to sign a consent form to allow your pharmacist to share your information with other parts of the NHS, such as your doctor and the Primary Care Trust.

Help from your pharmacist: Step two

You will be invited to talk with your pharmacist between one and two weeks after you receive your medicine. You will be able to choose a time that suits you.

This confidential conversation will take place in a private area within the pharmacy or, if you prefer, over the telephone.

Your pharmacist will ask you questions about how you are getting on with your new medicine, find out if you're having any problems and give you any information and support you need. You may have concerns or questions you want to ask about your new medicine.

Further help from your pharmacy: Step three

Your pharmacist will arrange a follow-up discussion two to three weeks after step two. You will be able to talk about how things are going with your medicine and ask for more advice if you need it.

Find your nearest Boots pharmacy below.

* This service is only available in England.

Read more like this:
Prescriptions Direct

Related categories:
Pharmacy and health

Find out more on BootsWebMD.com:
Read about medicines on our drugs database
Use the WebMD symptom checker