What is the New Medicine Service (NMS)?
The New Medicine Service (NMS) is an NHS based service offered in most community pharmacies. It provides additional advice and support to those who have been prescribed a new form of medication to treat an already established long-term condition. It ensures those who are on the medication are adhering to the changes and finding their new medicine manageable.
Those that are prescribed new medication will be invited to a consultation with a pharmacist to ascertain how they are getting on with their new medicine.
How will I know if I’m eligible for the new medicine service?
The NMS is focused on providing support to patients being treated for a number of specific conditions:
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure (Hypertension)
- Conditions that help control the way your blood clots
The system is only available to people who use medications for these conditions. If you wish to seek further advice or want to stop the service from being offered to you, then you may be referred to a doctor for further discussion.
How long will each appointment take?
The consultations are intended to fit around you. A standard consultation will take roughly 10-15 minutes.
Your first consultation with us
7 to 14 days after receiving your new medicine, your pharmacist will invite you to discuss how you’ve been getting on with your new medicine. The questions will focus on your experience so far, potential side effects, your routine and understanding so far.
Your second consultation with us
You’ll have a follow-up consultation 14 to 21 days after your first consultation. You will be able to discuss whether you’ve found the medicine easy or difficult to take and if side effects have developed or started. You may be offered a third consultation if you may need it, but 2 consultations are the typical amount required to cover all there is to know about the new medicine.
Yes, patients in care homes have the same entitlement to the New Medicine Service as anyone else. There would need to be arrangements made for follow up consultations for the patient if they are unable to access one of our pharmacies.
If a patient is not able to provide informed consent themselves and our pharmacist feels the patient would benefit from the service, the carer can be offered the service to further enhance the patients care.
There is no minimum age for the New Medicine Service but you must be capable of providing a form of written consent. (Meaning a parent or guardian cannot give permission on a child’s behalf). Anyone under the age of 18 must fully understand the purpose of the NMS and have the ability to consent to the sharing of information