NHS New Medicine Service

Helpful follow-up support when you start a new medicine, giving you advice, reassurance, and clearer understanding through your local pharmacy.

The NHS New Medicine Service is a pharmacy service that supports eligible patients who have been prescribed a new medicine for certain long-term conditions. Starting a new medicine can bring questions and uncertainties, especially in the first few weeks. Patients may want help understanding what the medicine is for, how it should be taken, when it should be taken, and what to do if they experience any concerns. This service gives patients access to that support through their community pharmacy.

The service is designed to help patients settle into new treatment more confidently. Rather than simply receiving a new prescription and being left to manage alone, patients can speak with a pharmacy professional who can explain the medicine clearly, check how they are getting on, and help address concerns early. That extra support can make the start of treatment feel much more manageable.

Community pharmacies are well placed to provide this kind of follow-up. Pharmacists are experts in medicines and can offer practical, accessible guidance that fits into everyday life. The New Medicine Service helps turn that expertise into ongoing patient support, improving understanding and helping patients feel more comfortable with their treatment plan.

The New Medicine Service supports eligible patients who start a new medicine for certain conditions. Current eligible therapeutic areas include:

• Asthma and COPD
• Type 2 diabetes
• Hypertension
• Hypercholesterolaemia
• Osteoporosis
• Gout
• Glaucoma
• Epilepsy
• Parkinson’s disease
• Urinary incontinence or retention
• Heart failure
• Atrial fibrillation
• Stroke or TIA-related treatment support
• Coronary heart disease and related cardiovascular treatment areas
• Depression for eligible adult patients

The service focuses on helping you understand and use your newly prescribed medicine correctly. It is about support, confidence, and safe medicine use rather than replacing your wider medical care.

This service is important because many patients stop taking new medicines too early or use them incorrectly simply because they are unsure, worried, or experiencing problems they do not fully understand. A little extra support at the beginning can make a big difference. It can improve confidence, reduce confusion, and help patients stay on track with treatment when it is appropriate to do so.

It is also important because starting a medicine is not always as simple as collecting it and going home. Patients may have concerns about timing, side effects, routine, or how the medicine fits into daily life. By giving them access to follow-up support through pharmacy, the service makes that early stage safer and easier to manage.

• Improves understanding of new medicines
• Helps patients use treatment more confidently
• Encourages early discussion of concerns
• Supports better adherence where appropriate
• Provides accessible follow-up care through pharmacy

Choosing our pharmacy for the NHS New Medicine Service means choosing a team that understands how important clear medicines support can be, especially at the start of treatment. We know that patients often have questions they may not want to leave unanswered, and our aim is to provide straightforward, reassuring guidance that helps you feel more comfortable with your medication.

Our pharmacy offers the convenience of local follow-up support in a professional and welcoming setting. We take the time to explain medicines clearly, discuss any concerns you may have, and help you feel more confident in how your treatment fits into daily life. Patients choose us because we focus on both professional care and personal support.

• Experienced support from a trusted local pharmacy
• Clear explanations about your new medicine
• Friendly, approachable healthcare team
• Convenient follow-up close to home
• Patient-centred care focused on confidence and understanding