The New Medicine Service (NMS) was introduced on the 1st October 2011 with the aim to offer advice and guidance for patients with long term conditions who are prescribed new medicines. The service is provided for free by the NHS in your local pharmacy.
The service is only available for certain medicines; however, the list has expanded since 2011 and continues to expand in response to pilot schemes and consultations. Originally, the scheme covered 4 areas of treatment, which was expanded to 16 areas in 2021.
To join the scheme, ask your local pharmacist if your new medication you have been prescribed is part of the NMS. If the medicine is on the NMS list, the pharmacist will be able to plan a series of appointments over the period of a month to help you discuss side effects or questions you have about your new medication. You are permitted up to 3 appointments with 2-week gaps through the service. If during the appointments or at the end of the service problems with the medication have not been resolved or are causing concern, the pharmacist will refer you back to your doctor for further discussion.
To find a list of eligible conditions and medicines which are covered by the NMS, please follow this link to the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions-and-pharmacies/pharmacies/new-medicine-service-nms/
As patients may not wish to discuss their medication and condition at the pharmacy counter, all pharmacies which offer the NMS must have a private consulting room available to offer NMS appointments.
It is expected that in 2023, antidepressants will be added onto the NMS in response to positive feedback from a pilot scheme. The English Pharmacy Council at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society welcomes this addition to the NMS, as adherence to antidepressants can be low. Benefits from these medications can take several weeks or months to be seen by patients.
For more information on the service, please follow the links below:
New Medicine Service (NMS)
https://psnc.org.uk/national-pharmacy-services/advanced-services/nms/
New Medicine Service
https://www.rpharms.com/recognition/all-our-campaigns/policy-a-z/new-medicines-service