Lots of us take medicines, and some people worry about them. If you have concerns about your medicines, you can ask to meet with someone at the doctors surgery to talk about them. This is usually called a ‘medication review’. If there is an urgent problem with medicines, don’t wait for a medication review.
Depending on your needs, routine medication reviews may be carried out by a review of notes, by asking your views via text message/email or you may be asked to come in for an appointment. Sometimes medication reviews will be linked to another review for example if you have an annual diabetes review.
Older people, taking lots of medicines are at greater risk of harm from medication, therefore at the Blandford Group Practice, we invite all patients aged over 70 taking 10 or medicines a day to attend for a comprehensive medication review (called a structured medication review)
Structured Medication Review (SMR)- Information for patient and carers
In a structured medication review clinicians and patients work as equal partners to understand the balance between the benefits and risks of medications and also look at the alternatives to taking medicines. The shared decision-making conversation being led by the patient’s individual needs, preferences and circumstances.
Why do I need a review?
When you are first prescribed a medicine it is usually the best one for you, however, things can change for example:
Any of these reasons, as well as others, can mean the medicine might not be right for you anymore.
What happens at a medicines review?
The review will be carried out by a Clinical Pharmacist or a GP. They will ask you some questions and look at your medical record. This will allow them to check you are on the medication which is right for you. They may suggest some changes to your medicines. They will explain these changes and why the change will benefit you. Appointments can be over the telephone or in person. We will invite you in for a medication review via a text message to your mobile phone, or if you have no mobile phone we will try and call you.
For more information see:
Example of the patient invitation letter
Inviting you to your medication review
Or watch the video entitled Preparing for Medication Review.