NHS Medicines Care and Review Service Dears Pharmacy Edinburgh Fife

Introduction

The NHS Medicines Care and Review Service at Dears Pharmacy can help you properly manage the medicines you take for a long-term condition and make sure you're getting the most out of them. Our pharmacists are on hand to discuss your medicines and any concerns you may have about them or your condition. The service is available to anyone who is registered with a GP in Scotland and does not live in a care home.

There are three parts to the service.

Reviewing our medicines

Our pharmacist will look at how you take your medicines, any problems you have with them and if a care plan if relevant. They can do this at least once a year.

Care planning

A care plan helps you to agree with our pharmacist how to get the best out of your medicines, especially if you have been having any problems. We'll give you a copy of your care plan and may, if you agree, contact your doctor about it if necessary.

Serial prescriptions

You may be able to get serial prescriptions from your doctor so you can get your medicines on a long-term, repeat prescription without having to place orders every month (or two months) as you do now.

You will need to register at a pharmacy to use this service. Registering will help you get advice and support tailored to you. If you use Dears Pharmacy to dispense or buy your medicines or for one of our other wide range of services it's a good idea to register with us. You can do this at any time. We'll ask you for your name, address and date of birth and you'll need to fill in a simple registration form which you and our pharmacist will sign.

Reviewing your medicines

When you first register for the service, and at least once a year after that, the pharmacist will review your medicines with you. When you first register, the review will include some questions about how you take your medicines and any problems you may have. Each year after that the review will make sure that your medicines are still working for you.

Care planning

If your pharmacist thinks a care plan would help you, they will ask you about any problems you are having with your medicines. They will talk to you about what you would like to do about the problems. They will then develop your care plan with you. It will set out any actions that you and the pharmacist need to take to help you with your medicines. The pharmacist will then regularly review and update the care plan with you.

Your care plan will include information on the following.

Any problems you may have with your medicines (for example, unpleasant side effects, difficulty swallowing tablets or remembering when to take them)
What the pharmacist would like to do to help you with your problems (for example, make it easier for you to take your medicines)
What the pharmacist and you think you both need to do to help with the problems (for example, Speak to your doctor about changing your tablets to easy-to-swallow capsules or a liquid)
When the problem has been solved or if something else needs to happen

The pharmacist will work with plan. They may share some information with your doctor, but only if you agree.

All staff working with or for the NHS have a legal duty to keep information about you confidential. Your care plan is held safely and securely by the pharmacy, and only a pharmacist can look at your care plan. You can ask for a printed copy of your care plan.

What happens when I have a care plan?

The pharmacist will review your care plan regularly with you. This will usually happen when you collect a repeat prescription. Sometimes, the pharmacist may ask to speak with you about your care plan. They will always talk to you in private. The pharmacist will check your care plan regularly to make sure it is helping you get the most benefit from your medicines, and will update your care plan if your healthcare needs change. Every person who registers for the NHS Medicines: Care and Review service is entitled to have a care plan. If you can manage your medicines and condition well, you may not need a detailed plan.

Where can I get more information?

Please contact one of our pharmacies for more information. We'll be pleased to answer your queries and help you get the best from your medcines.

Service details

Price: Free

Frequency: When required...

NHS Medicines: Care and Review Service