The Medicines, Care and Review Service is a voluntary service for people with long-term conditions. It’s available at all community pharmacies across Scotland.
You can only use this service if you’ve registered with a community pharmacy.
You can use this service if you:
You can’t use this service if you’re a temporary resident in Scotland.
The Medicines, Care and Review Service can help you manage your medicine through your local pharmacist whilst your doctor continues to provide your medical care.
You can choose which pharmacy to register with. But, you can only register with one pharmacy at a time. Once registered, you’ll only be able to access this service from your chosen pharmacy.
There are 3 parts to the Medicines, Care and Review Service:
When you’ve registered for the service, your pharmacist will:
Following this review, your pharmacist will decide if a care plan would be helpful.
A care plan helps your pharmacist give you more regular care and advice about your medicines.
Your care plan will include:
If you need a care plan, your pharmacist will work with you to develop the right outcome. They may share some information with your doctor who will decide, with you, about any changes to your medicines.
Your pharmacist will review your plan with you regularly. This makes sure it’s helping to deal with any problems with your medicines. They’ll also update your care plan when your health care needs change.
You pharmacist will also look at your plan when you collect a prescription. They may ask to speak with you in private about your plan.
A serial prescription is a prescription for medicines to treat long-term conditions. These prescriptions last for 24, 48 or 56 weeks.
With a serial prescription, you can get medicines directly from your pharmacist. This means you don’t need to ask your doctor for a prescription. A serial prescription can only be dispensed from the pharmacy where you’re registered.
Your doctor will decide how often you should collect your prescription. For example, every 4 or 8 weeks.
Your pharmacist will know when your supply is low. They should have your prescription ready for you when you need it. Your pharmacist will also use this to have a short discussion with you in relation to your care plan.
At the end of your prescription, your pharmacist will ask you to sign the serial prescription form. They’ll tell your doctor you need a new prescription.
Your pharmacist may ask your doctor for a new serial prescription, or give you a re-order form to take to your doctor’s surgery. Your doctor may request that you go to the surgery for a review before they issue the next prescription. This’ll be part of your ongoing medical care.
Your doctor can stop or change your serial prescription at any time. If this happens:
You must register before you can use the NHS Medicines, Care and Review Service. You can do this at any time. There’s no need to book an appointment.
To register, your pharmacist will complete a form and will need to know:
You’ll also be asked to confirm that you:
Once complete, your pharmacist will ask you to sign the form. They’ll also notify your doctor that you’ve registered for the service at their pharmacy.
You can cancel at any time by letting your pharmacist know you want to cancel.
They’ll ask you to sign a withdrawal form and tell your doctor that you’re no longer registered at their pharmacy.
The Scottish Government has a Medicines, Care and Review Service patient leaflet. This is also available in alternative languages.
Further information is available from the Scottish Government website
Last updated:
23 February 2023