NHS New Medicine Service (NMS): free support for newly prescribed medicines
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Serving 2 million patients
What is the New Medicine Service?
The NHS New Medicine Service is a free, pharmacist-led service delivered by our pharmacists. It's available for certain medicines and health conditions, and it's designed to help you get the most from your new medicine. A pharmacist will call you to run through any questions you have about your new prescription, advise on any side effects, and refer you to the doctor if they decide it needs reviewing.
Separate to our Online Doctor service, the NHS NMS service is designed to support you and help you get the most from your new medicine. The New Medicine Service consists of 3 appointments with a pharmacist, including an initial consultation for you to discuss your new medicine and ask any questions and a follow-up after 2 weeks to check up on you.
How it works
When we’ve sent you a new medicine that qualifies for the New Medicine Service, we’ll automatically invite you to book an NHS New Medicine Service appointment with one of our pharmacists. If you get your prescriptions elsewhere, always ask your pharmacy at the point of prescription about the service, which is available across England. Find out more here.
The following steps outline the New Medicine Service process and what to expect when you're prescribed a medicine that's delivered by Pharmacy2U and eligible for the NMS.
Receive invitation
Speak to an expert
2 week check up
Get a referral if needed
Register now to benefit from this service when you have a new medicine prescribed
What are the benefits of the New Medicine Service?
A free, confidential chat with your pharmacist
The opportunity to ask any questions about your new prescription
The confidence of knowing how and when to take your new medicine properly – helping both you and the NHS
A reduced risk of complications or issues
The addition of more conditions, including depression as of October 2025
Long-term conditions suitable for the New Medicine Service
Angina
Asthma
Atrial fibrillation
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Coronary heart disease
Diabetes (type 2)
Blood clots or blocked blood vessels, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Epilepsy
Glaucoma
Gout
Heart attack
Heart failure
High blood pressure (hypertension)
High cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia)
Osteoporosis
Parkinson's disease
Stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
Urinary incontinence
Depression (for patients aged 18 or over)
Frequently asked questions
Yes, we need to dispense your new medicine to be able to provide you with this service.
No. You just need to be available to take our call at your requested appointment time. Our pharmacist will run through a few questions with you to see how you’re getting on with your new medicine. If you have any questions you’d like to ask after reading the leaflet that comes with your new medicine, make a note of these ready to discuss.
Each telephone appointment with the pharmacist will take around 5 minutes depending on what questions you have. It shouldn’t take any longer than 10 minutes.
Yes. If the pharmacist has any concerns, they’ll discuss these with you and if needed, send a note to your GP recommending that they review your new medicine with you.
The NHS New Medicine Service is a consultation with a qualified pharmacist to discuss your new medicine and help you get the most out of it. There are three appointments in the process to make sure everything’s okay, and your pharmacist will refer you to your GP if they think your medicine needs reviewing.
If Pharmacy2U dispenses your medicine, we will automatically invite you to book a New Medicine Service consultation. If you get your medicine elsewhere, enquire about the service with your pharmacist at the point of prescription.
Yes, the New Medicine Service (NMS) is a free NHS service.
In your consultation, your pharmacist will check in with you about your new medicine and answer any questions you may have. They’ll refer you to your GP or contact your GP if they think your medicine needs reviewing.
No, the New Medicine Service is only available for patients in England. It is not available in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
If you’re under the age of 18, you may need to get consent from the appropriate parent, guardian, or carer for parts of the New Medicine Service. There are also certain conditions for which the New Medicine Service is only available to those aged 18 and over, such as depression.
Yes, you can opt out. The New Medicine Service is not mandatory, so you can let your pharmacy know that you do not wish to take part.
The NMS covers a wide range of conditions. For a comprehensive list, consult the New Medicine Service list in the section of this page above titled ‘List of long-term conditions suitable for the New Medicine Service’.
As of October 2025, the New Medicine Service was expanded to include prescriptions for depression. Your pharmacist will be able to discuss specific medicines, ingredients, side effects, and more during your consultations.
What our patients say
Rated excellent with 400,000+ reviews as of October 2023
Worry free service
This service has taken all the worry out of ordering repeat perscriptions. They remind you when perscriptions are due & they are posted & within a couple of days they are there on your door mat. Exemplary service. Thank you.
Hester Pendino
Great service
Great service. With good liaison with my GP. And order always efficiently delivered. So much easier than queueing at the local chemist. I started using Pharmacy2U during the pandemic and no turning back.
Hilary Simpson
The help line staff were excellent
The help line staff were excellent, they understood my issue straightaway, told me they would need to speak to a line manager and would get back to me. The same person got back to me later in the day with an answer, issue resolved
Linda Lauren
Great user friendly service
This is a very easy service to use.
I order my medication online from the drs it goes straight through to Pharmacy2U they confirm they have received it and it is sent out for delivery. With emails keeping me informed of its status all along the way.Neil Etheridge
I get reminders when I need to order
I get reminders when I need to order. It is easy to order and I get updates to let me know how my order is progressing. Within a very short time it is put out for delivery. It is then up to Royal Mail to post it through my letterbox.
Janet Tittensor
Losing the monthly stress
Being able to request my prescription from the doctors and knowing that the items I require will be delivered to my door without delay. Originally I would go to the pharmacy after a 5 day wait to find that my prescription was not ready, so thank you for making my life easier.
Pat Cruttenden
Excellent service
Excellent service. Timely as ever. Prompted by P2U to re-order. From sending order to receipt was 7 days. Excellent as it includes GP’s approval sign off.
Ceijag