ANDY MURDOCK, pharmacy director, Lloydspharmacy, replies:

After reviewing the newsletter mentioned I think that there is a slight misunderstanding of the interpretation. A recent audit that we have undertaken has highlighted several barriers pharmacists and staff have when undertaking MURs. One of these is the engagement with potential MUR patients to introduce and explain the service. As part of our ongoing attempts to help our pharmacists and staff overcome these barriers we identify ideas from “best” performing pharmacies and the idea mentioned would be no more than an “ice breaker” to initiate a conversation to help assess whether or not the particular patient would benefit from an MUR. We have issued much more detailed and significant guidance around specific conditions that does not trivialise or play down the importance we attach to providing a proper and appropriate MUR service.