Policy topic
The New Medicine Service (NMS) was the fourth Advanced Service to be added to the NHS community pharmacy contract; it commenced in the beginning of October 2011.
The service provides support for people with long-term conditions newly prescribed a medicine to help improve medicines adherence; it is initially focused on particular patient groups and conditions.
Since the introduction of the NMS in October 2011, more than 90% of community pharmacies in England have provided the service to their patients. Initial funding for the service was agreed until March 2013, and since then funding has been extended pending a decision on the long-term future of the service.
The findings published in August 2014 by the University of Nottingham were overwhelmingly positive and that it delivered better patient outcomes for lower cost to the NHS. Patients' medicine adherence was increased and their knowledge on managing their condition was improved.