The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7411 p132-133
29 July 2006

This article
Reprint   Photocopy

PDF 40K, Acrobat Reader

· The profession (2)
· Dispensing
· Medicine use reviews
· Strains and sprains
· CPPE
· Fellowship

Letters to the Editor

Medicine use reviews

Time to review protocol

From Miss H. J. Badham, MRPharmS

Most pharmacists will agree the advance of medicines use reviews within community pharmacy has provided an opportunity to use our knowledge, identify where pharmaceutical therapy could be improved and enhance patient compliance. So much so, that Department of Health figures indicate that some pharmacies may be doing over the “contracted” 250 per year target. However, why must an MUR only be provided from within a registered community pharmacy? I think the service should be extended to allow UK registered and trained pharmacists at the patient’s regular pharmacy to visit, by prior arrangement, patients who maybe housebound or in residential care homes. These patients are often prescribed many medicines, have several concurrent disease states, and have long-term illnesses. They may also be more likely to suffer from the side effects of medication, may have difficulty reading patient information leaflets and may infrequently see a health professional.

Therefore, review of the MUR protocol is essential to ensure all people have access to and potentially benefit from this pharmaceutical service.

Helen Badham
Sheffield

Send your letter to The Editor

Previous Topic (Dispensing)
Next Topic (Strains and sprains)