Pharmacy Team

Helping you get the best from your medicines

Our Primary Care Network (PCN) pharmacy team works alongside GPs, nurses and other healthcare professionals to help you get the best possible outcomes from your medicines. Clinical pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals who specialise in medicines. They can provide advice, review your medicines and, where appropriate, prescribe or make changes to your treatment. Their aim is simple: to make sure your medicines are safe, effective and right for you.

How can a PCN Pharmacist help you?

Your pharmacist may be able to help with:

  • Reviewing your medicines to make sure they are still right for you
  • Explaining what your medicines are for and how to take them
  • Helping with side effects or concerns about your medicines
  • Checking whether different medicines are working well together
  • Looking at whether you could benefit from changing, reducing or stopping a medicine
  • Supporting you with medicines for long-term health conditions
  • Helping you understand your treatment after a hospital admission or change in medication
  • Providing advice about inhalers, blood pressure medicines, diabetes medicines and other treatments
  • Helping you make informed decisions about your treatment and answering questions you may have

Pharmacist’s will also work with your GP, community pharmacy or hospital team to make sure everyone involved in your care has the right information.

Structured Medication Reviews

What is a Structured Medication Review?

If you take several medicines, have a long-term health condition, or have recently experienced a change in your health or treatment, you may be offered a Structured Medication Review (SMR).

This is a conversation with a healthcare professional about all the medicines you take. It looks at how well your medicines are working, whether you are experiencing any problems and whether there are safer or more suitable options.

Your views are an important part of the review. You can talk about:

  • Medicines you are worried about
  • Side effects or difficulties taking your medicines
  • Whether you understand what each medicine is for
  • Medicines you no longer feel you need
  • Any concerns about taking several medicines
  • What matters most to you about your treatment

The aim is not simply to reduce the number of medicines you take. It is about making sure that every medicine you take has a clear benefit for you and that the overall treatment is safe and appropriate.

Who might be offered a medication review?

There are a number of reasons why you may be invited for a review. This can include if you:

  • Take several regular medicines
  • Have recently been discharged from hospital
  • Have a number of long-term health conditions
  • Are experiencing problems or side effects with your medicines
  • Take medicines that require particularly careful monitoring
  • Are frail or have had a recent fall
  • Live in a care home
  • Take medicines that can cause dependence, such as some pain medicines

Your GP practice or PCN pharmacy team will identify patients who are most likely to benefit from a review.

What happens during an appointment?

Your appointment is an opportunity to talk openly about your medicines.

The pharmacist may ask you: “How are you getting on with your medicines?”

They will discuss your medicines with you, consider your health and circumstances, and explain any recommendations.

You will have the opportunity to ask questions and be involved in decisions about your treatment. Any changes will be discussed with you and, where appropriate, with other members of your healthcare team.

Our pharmacy team is here to help you get the best from your medicines.