Reviewed by a GPhC-registered Pharmacist at Newdays Pharmacy
Quick Answer: New Medicine Service (NMS) is a free NHS service available at all NHS-contracted pharmacies in England, including Newdays Pharmacy. It provides structured support for people who have just been prescribed a new medicine for a long-term condition. Evidence shows the NMS significantly improves medication adherence, helps people manage side effects, and reduces unnecessary GP appointments.
What Is the New Medicine Service?
The New Medicine Service (NMS) is an NHS-funded advanced pharmacy service designed to support patients who are newly prescribed medicines for specific long-term conditions. It was introduced across England in 2011 following strong evidence that many patients stop taking newly prescribed medicines within the first few weeks due to side effects, concerns, or lack of understanding.
The service is completely free of charge and is available at all NHS-contracted pharmacies in England. No GP referral is needed. Your pharmacist will offer it when you collect a new prescription for an eligible medicine.
Who Is the NMS Available For?
The NMS is available for patients newly prescribed medicines (within the last four weeks) for the following conditions:
- Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): New inhalers and respiratory medicines
- Type 2 diabetes: New blood glucose-lowering medicines
- Hypertension (high blood pressure): New antihypertensive medicines
- Anticoagulant therapy: New anticoagulant medicines such as warfarin, rivaroxaban, apixaban, or dabigatran
The service was extended in 2023 to include additional conditions and medicines. Speak to your Newdays pharmacist to check whether your new medicine qualifies.
What Does the NMS Involve?
The NMS consists of three structured contacts between the patient and pharmacist:
Contact One: Engagement and Assessment (at the pharmacy or by telephone)
Within the first two weeks of starting the new medicine, your pharmacist will:
- Confirm your understanding of what the medicine is for and how to take it correctly
- Discuss any concerns or questions you have about the medicine
- Ask about any side effects you have experienced so far
- Provide personalised advice on managing side effects
- Check for any drug interactions with other medicines you take
Contact Two: Follow-up (at approximately four weeks, by telephone or in person)
Your pharmacist will follow up to:
- Review how you are getting on with the medicine
- Address any ongoing concerns, side effects, or adherence difficulties
- Provide further support or signposting as needed
- Refer you back to your GP or specialist if there are any clinical concerns
Contact Three: Conclusion (at the follow-up appointment)
The pharmacist concludes the service, documents the outcome, and communicates any relevant information to your GP practice.
What Are the Benefits of the NMS?
An NHS-funded evaluation of the NMS found that patients who used the service were significantly more likely to adhere to their new medicine after three months compared to those who received standard dispensing. The service was also shown to:
- Reduce the proportion of patients who stopped their medicine prematurely
- Reduce the number of GP consultations related to new medicine concerns
- Improve patients’ confidence in taking their medicines
- Identify and resolve problems with dosing, side effects, and interactions earlier
Why Do So Many People Stop Taking New Medicines?
Research consistently shows that adherence to newly prescribed long-term medicines is poor. Estimates suggest that up to 50 percent of people with long-term conditions do not take their medicines as prescribed. Common reasons include:
- Side effects, particularly in the early weeks of treatment
- Not understanding what the medicine is for or why it is important
- Concerns about taking medicines long-term
- Forgetting doses
- Practical difficulties such as swallowing tablets or using inhalers correctly
The NMS specifically addresses these barriers through structured, personalised pharmacist support at the point when patients are most likely to abandon treatment.
Can Children Use the NMS?
The NMS is available for patients of all ages, including children, subject to the eligible condition and medicine criteria. A parent or carer can engage with the service on behalf of a child.
New Medicine Service at Newdays Pharmacy
Newdays Pharmacy provides the New Medicine Service at all four of our branches: Eton (Windsor), Twyford, Reading (Coley Park), and Lane End. When you collect a new prescription for an eligible medicine, our pharmacist will discuss whether the NMS is appropriate for you. The service is free, takes only a few minutes per contact, and is delivered conveniently by telephone or in person at a time that suits you.
Book Now: Collect Your Prescription and Ask About the NMS at Newdays Pharmacy: Click Here
Frequently Asked Questions
In most cases, the first NMS contact happens at the time you collect your new prescription from the pharmacy. Subsequent follow-up contacts are usually arranged by telephone. No separate appointment booking is typically required, though you can ask at any time about enrolling in the service.
The NMS in its current form is an NHS England service. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own pharmacy service frameworks, which may include similar medicine adherence support services under different names. Newdays Pharmacy operates in England and provides the NMS under the NHS England framework.
You can speak to a Newdays pharmacist about any medicine concern at any time, not just during formal NMS appointments. Our pharmacists are available during opening hours and can advise on side effects, interactions, dose queries and any other concerns about your medicines.