Medication Review Process
In line with NHS medicines management guidelines, we invite patients to attend an annual medication review with one of our clinicians.
The main purpose of a med review is to give the patient and the clinician an opportunity to discuss the ongoing suitability of the prescribed medication, e.g.
- Is the medicine proving effective?
- Are there any unwanted side effects?
- Is the patient takling the medication properly?
- Have lifestyle and non-medicinal interventions been utilised?
Patients will be offered an appointment during or close to their birthday month, and review may include a blood pressure check or a blood test depending upon the medication taken.
Or it can be 3 or 6 monthly review depending on the complexity of the medication.
- The review will be carried out by either a GP, prescribing nurse, or clinical pharmacist and should take no more then 15-20 minutes. You can choose whether this is by telephone or face to face.
- General medication reviews tend to be carried out by a GP or Pharmacist, asthma reviews by one of our nurses, and HRT/contraception by either our nurses or Dr Cole.
Why can’t I order my medication online sometimes?
- Medication is prescribed for a limited number of issues, for example – 3 monthly prescriptions
- When all issues are fulfilled, the prescription becomes FOC (Full On Computer) which means that a clinician needs to re-authorise further issues of the prescription, as per protocol.
- The clinician will check that the meds are still the most appropriate for the patient and when this is done - it may take a few working days - the patient can reorder online again.
- If a patient runs out of medication before the GP approves a new issue, we will provide a month’s supply to bridge the gap.
You can tell us that you need your meds to be re-authorised by writing in the comments box in the NHS app, or by calling our prescriptions line which is open between 10am and 2pm each day.