NHS New Medicine Service. Support for Your New Medication

The service is a potentially two-part virtual consultation, funded by the NHS, at no cost to you. It helps you:

• Find out more about your new medicine and how it works
• Sort out any problems you are experiencing
• Ask questions and discuss concerns with a clinician
• Discover easier or more effective ways to take your medication
• Make your own informed decisions about managing your condition
• Improve your health, which could lead to fewer GP and hospital visits

You may qualify for the NMS if you have been prescribed a new medication for any of the following long-term conditions:

You can use the NHS New Medicine Service if you:

• Are registered with the NHS in England
• Have been prescribed a new medication for one of the eligible long-term conditions listed above

You do not need to have your prescriptions dispensed by NowPatient to use this service. NowPatient is also working to allow GPs in England to refer patients directly to the virtual service.

Important: This service is commissioned by NHS England and is only available to patients in England. It is not available in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, or outside the UK.

The NHS New Medicine Service is completely free. It is funded by the NHS and you will not be charged for any consultations.

The NMS follows a structured three-stage process designed to support you from the moment you start your new medication.

Whether you are engaging through the self-check or an automatic notification, the booking process is the same:

1. Start the booking. For self-check, select ‘Check Eligibility’ from the NHS New Medicine Service Card and complete the eligibility screening. If eligible, click ‘Book Consultation’. For automatic notifications, open the invitation from ‘Notifications’ on your homepage and click ‘Book Consultation’.
2. Choose a date. Select your preferred consultation date. You can add notes to help the clinician prepare. Click ‘Continue’.
3. Choose a time. Select your preferred time and click ‘Continue’.
4. Choose a clinician. Browse available clinicians. You can filter by gender and spoken languages. Click ‘Continue’.
5. Review your booking. Check the summary and read the ‘Pre-consultation Requirements’ for preparation tips. Click ‘Continue’.
6. Provide safety information. Enter your consultation address and emergency contact details. Opt in to an SMS reminder 30 minutes before your appointment if you wish.
7. Confirm your booking. Click ‘Confirm Booking’. You will see a confirmation pop-up and receive in-app and push notifications.

To get the most from your consultation, we recommend you:

• Read the leaflet that comes with your new medicine
• Write down any questions you want to ask about the medication
• Note any concerns or side effects you would like to discuss
• Have your new medicine to hand during the consultation

After each consultation, you will receive a notification summarising the outcome, including any referrals to your doctor and advice given by the clinician. This is sent via in-app and push notifications. Go to ‘Notifications’ on your account homepage to view it.

You may also receive a short survey about your experience. We encourage you to complete it — your feedback helps us improve the service for you and other patients.

During the virtual consultation, we will ask for your consent to provide the service. This is required so we can communicate with your GP and share information with NHS England, NHS Improvement, and the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) if needed.

NowPatient’s clinicians are board-certified pharmacists qualified to prescribe selected medications for six common conditions, as outlined by the NHS.

Every clinician is registered with the appropriate regulatory body, for example, pharmacists are registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). All clinicians undergo thorough background checks, including a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, and a comprehensive licence verification process.

When you book an appointment, you can view the clinician’s full name, licence number, and any specialist credentials.

The services our clinicians provide are strictly governed, risk-assessed, and regularly reviewed in line with NHS guidelines. The service is delivered via remote video consultations (synchronous consultations) to help ensure clinical safety.

As an NHS patient, our clinicians can access your GP record, including medications, observations, and investigations. This ensures they can assess you appropriately and provide safe, relevant advice.