The New Medicine Service is a free NHS service available in England to help you get the most out of your newly-prescribed medicine. If you have recently been given a prescription for a new medicine to treat a long-term condition such as asthma, type 2 diabetes, a respiratory conditions such as chronic bronchitis or emphysema, blood pressure, as well as conditions where you take a medicine to control the way your blood clotshigh; it can help you feel more in control of your health if you understand more about the condition and how to get the most out of your medicine.

The service can help you find out more about the new medicine you’re taking, identify any problems you may be having with the medication, get answers to any questions or concerns you may have about your medicine, find the easiest and most effective way to take your medicine; for example, you may benefit from taking it at a certain time of day. It will also help you make your own decisions about managing your condition on an ongoing basis.

When we dispense your new medicine, we will ask you if you would like to take advantage of the NHS New Medicine Service. The service consists of just three steps:

• 1- STEP ONE: Our pharmacist will talk to you about your new medicine. At this stage you will be asked to sign a consent form, to allow your information to be shared with relevant departments in the NHS who may be somehow involved in your care. We will need this consent before we can continue with the service. If you don’t want to give your consent, we will still be able to give you some advice about your medicines, but won’t be able to offer you the full service.
• 2- STEP TWO: Our pharmacist will ask you to come into store for a consultation one to two weeks after you’ve received your medicine. This would be a confidential consultation in our private consultation room; or if you prefer, you could have a telephone conversation with our pharmacist, who will ask how you’re getting on with the medicine and find out if you’re having any problems and offer the information and support you might need.
  It’s also the chance for you to ask any questions and tell our pharmacist any concerns you may have with your new medicine. To help you prepare, you might want to consider:

• Reading the leaflet that comes with your medicine
• Write down any questions you might have, just to act as a prompt
• Keep a list of any concerns you have had since starting to take the medicine
• Bring your medicine with you to the pharmacy, or have it nearby if you are talking on the phone
• Doing a little bit of research about your medicine or condition at www.nhs.uk
• 3- STEP THREE: A follow-up consultation will be arranged approximately two to four weeks later. This final consultation will give you the chance to talk about how you are managing with your medicine and give you the opportunity to ask for more information and advice if you need it.