What is the NMS?
The New Medicine Service is an NHS-funded conversation, not a bookable appointment. When your pharmacist dispenses your first prescription for a qualifying long-term medicine, they’ll identify you as eligible and invite you to engage with the service.
How does it work?
Three steps: (1) Identification — your pharmacist spots an eligible new medicine at dispensing. (2) Intervention — a confidential chat about how you’re getting on, side-effects and how to take it correctly. (3) Follow-up — we check in again about 4 weeks later. Both conversations can be by phone or face-to-face, whichever suits you.
Who is it for?
Adults newly prescribed a long-term medicine for asthma, COPD, type 2 diabetes, hypertension or anticoagulation (apixaban, warfarin and similar). Your pharmacist will tell you on the day if your medicine qualifies — no need to ask in advance.