NHS Lanarkshire’s primary care pharmacy team is encouraging people to take up the offer of their medication reviews, also known as polypharmacy reviews, especially those taking five or more medications regularly.
People who are eligible for a medication review will be contacted by a member of their GP practice team to arrange an appointment.
The review is an informal chat which covers: knowing what your medicine is for, learning about side-effects, different medication options and taking charge of your health.
John McMillan, lead pharmacist for advanced clinical services at South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “Medication reviews are really important to make sure the medicines prescribed are still safe and effective.
“Patients can develop side effects over time, and long-term conditions may change, meaning the medication may not be right for them anymore.
“Patients are involved in all conversations, and it is very much a shared decision-making process.”
All GP practices in Lanarkshire now have access to pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy support workers who help with the practice workload and the management of patients’ medication.