Medication Reviews
“Why can I not order my prescription online?”
“Why have you stopped my prescription?”
“Why do you make it difficult for me to order my prescription?”
Did you know?
Park View Medical Centre now supports over 6600 local residents
Approximately 4500 patients have at least one medication on repeat.
Why do I need annual review?
As part of our continuing care to our patients, we ask that all medication is reviewed by the practice at least once a year. This is to ensure that firstly the medication is still effective and appropriate for the condition for which it is being prescribed and secondly, that the medication is safe and doing no harm.
Please note that you may also be monitored at a hospital or other institution but we are also required to review you as we provide your prescriptions.
What will happen at the review?
The annual review may include a blood test, blood pressure check, etc. and appointments with the appropriate clinicians in our medication review clinics. For some patients, e.g. diabetics, this may be more than once a year.
How will I be invited?
You will receive a text message or letter to invite you to either book a Face to Face or Telephone review depending on what is needed. Some text messages will hold links to be able to book your own appointments without having to call the practice. For safety reasons, if you do not respond to these requests, the practice may have to restrict the quantity of medication on further prescriptions or opt to hold back further supplies until you are reviewed.
We encourage all patients to take responsibility for their own health, therefore, we ask that you be aware when your review is due and respond as soon as possible.
What happens after my review?
After all the different components of the review have been undertaken your whole record will be checked and the review date moved forward by a maximum of 12 months.
If you are on the repeat dispensing service, the next set of prescriptions will be set up to be forwarded to the pharmacy on a monthly basis.
Medication Safety
All prescription items are assessed at least annually for medication safety. This may include a blood test or other physical check such as a blood pressure or discussing your symptoms or side effects. These checks are imperative to ensure the medication is not causing any adverse effects.
Why do I get called frequently for my review?
For example, many blood pressure medications require an annual check of your kidney function, in thankfully rare circumstances, their use can reduce your kidney function. This test is annual and without the results we cannot safely continue to prescribe the medication and it may be stopped by a clinician until the checks have been undertaken. The risks of continuing the medication outweigh the risks of stopping it.
Some prescriptions require a review and/or blood tests more regularly such as every 3 months. We have thorough systems in place to ensure these key safety checks are not missed. You will get a reminder by SMS/Email/letter or phone call to attend for your test. If you are seen regularly at the North Manchester Hospital we can look up your results on their system but please bear in mind what they may test for may not be the same as what is needed here.
Under what circumstances do you stop the prescription?
If no review has been completed after three invites we will move the prescriptions over the paper meaning you will have to attend the practice to collect before going to the pharmacy. Once this is done, if a review is still not completed it will be discussed in house the possibility of pausing your prescription until the review is complete.
Medications are ONLY withheld or stopped when PATIENT SAFETY is at risk.
Confidence
Please rest assured that we do not block/stop or withhold any prescription lightly, it will always be because something needs to be checked.
If you have received a reminder for a review or blood test, PLEASE take responsibility and contact us as soon as possible to make this process as smooth as possible.