Are medicines use reviews a waste of NHS money?

Read the story that inspired the poll.

Ayshe Ismail
PJ Online team

The question of the value of NMS /MUR is not likley to go away. As pharmacists we are convinced thet by providing information to patients about their medicines, this is likely to be benficial in improving concordance and so reduce morbidity and mortality. I believe that in these austere times we need all the evidence we can get, regrettably I feel we can never "prove" the benefits of these interventions. Such proof would require randomisation into intervention and control groups etc. all of this would rightly be considered unethical (IMHO). I feel also that we cannot rely on other professional groups to aid our cause. Some GPs may see this as "unallocated" cash and therefore lodge a claim that they could counsel patients equally well. In the scramble for resources, pharmacists laying claim to a substantial amount of money are unlikely to find willing allies! I believe thet we need to situate NMS and MURs within the overarching approach of provision of high quality care from community pharmacists, which, like other services has to be adequately funded. I am left with the conclusion that we are likely only ever to have an "association" between pharmacists interventions and improved patient outcomes. We do need to be aware of what is happening in the wider NHS and the need to keep others on our side if possible. There will always be critics, we need to have the courage of our convictions and stay the course, NMR and MURs should be here for the foreseeable future. I think we need to be less defensive, especially as only pharmacists and those closely associated with medicines supply (and hopefully patients) can truly appreciate these benefits. Dr Keith Pearson Manchester

We need to market ourselves better to patients when we offer these services and not expect others to do it for us. Our core role in the current and future climate should always include optimising the use of medicines to improve health outcomes. The sooner we get that, the more value we can demonstrate. Also, we need to prove the value of MURs to patients themselves and get them to value the service just as much as collecting and delivering their prescription. When it works, it really can make a difference to the loyalty of patients.

The world would still go on if MURs were abandoned.  .They are very very easy money for pharmacy business. However ,it is rare that I come across a patient that does not learn from the session.They are generally very supportive of their surgeries but understand the constraints that the Doctor works under and very much appreciate another HP's input.The bill for prescribing is rising inexorably and there is no doubt in my mind that the reassurance,interest and supportive lifestyle comments provided , are very much welcomed .Lets be honest, who really wants to find a patient ,non compliant and ignorant of their circumstances?MURs are a reasonably priced 'insurance policy' to monitor potential wastage of resources and an appropriate activity for pharmacists' public health skills.The current computer systems provide efficient and professional support.MUR's should remain as part of our provision of activities.