If you're prescribed a medicine to treat a long-term condition for the first time, you may be able to get help and advice about your medicine from a local pharmacist. This is done through a free scheme called the new medicine service (NMS).
As part of the scheme, the pharmacist will support you over several weeks to use the medicine safely and correctly.
Who can use the service
You can use the new medicine service if you live in England and have been prescribed a new medicine for any of these conditions:
- asthma
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- type 2 diabetes
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- osteoporosis
- gout
- glaucoma
- epilepsy
- Parkinson's disease
- urinary incontinence or retention
- heart failure
- coronary heart disease
- atrial fibrillation
- unstable angina or heart attack
- stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
- long-term risk of blood clots or blocked blood vessels, including DVT (deep vein thrombosis)
How the service works
When you pick up your new prescription at a pharmacy, ask the pharmacist if you can take part in the new medicine service.
You’ll have 3 appointments with the pharmacist over several weeks. The appointments can take place over the phone or in the pharmacy's private consultation area.
At these appointments, you can discuss concerns or issues with the pharmacist, and they can help you with any problems linked to your medicine. If needed, the pharmacist can refer you back to your doctor.