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Medicines Use Review (MUR) is a service which can be offered to patients by community pharmacists under the Advanced Services of the pharmacy contract; it is also referred to as a Prescription Interventon Service dependent on whether it is a planned or opportunistic consultation and it's outcomes. The aim of the Service is to achieve a concordant approach to medicine taking by:
- identifying, discussing and resolving poor or ineffective use of their medicines;
- identifying side effects and drug interactions that may affect patient compliance;
- improving the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of prescribed medicines and reducing medicine wastage.
The review is one of medicine use, not a clinical review.
A self-accreditation form (PREM1) can be dowloaded from this site by clicking here. The form must be completed and sent to the local PCT together with copies of MUR Certificates for each pharmacist (including locums) intending to deliver the service. PCTs will be monitoring compliance with these criteria during a monitoring visit. If pharmacists wish to conduct MURs off premises, they must first fulfill all accreditation criteria and apply to their PCT for permission using form PREM2.
Guidelines on MURs, a briefing document on MURs targeted at GPs, various support tools and forms can be found within the Contract Documents page. Within this section is a PDF of an excellent patient leaflet (Ord No. 270570) which can be ordered free from DH by clicking here or phoning 0870 155 5455.
The LPC has put considerable effort and resource behind supporting the effective delivery of quality MURs including a Resource Pack, a series of MUR Skills workshops which were developed and run in late 2006 with input from the local Pharmacy Collaborative team, a number of effective support tools and further workshops on integrating the service into the day job. The outcome has been a more consistent understanding and delivery of MURs plus a significant uplift in activity.
Think...MURs was the latest stage of the LPC strategy which provided more tailored support to the pharmacy team based on feedback from a survey. A dedicated MUR newsletter was also sent to all pharmacies on a monthly basis. The aim is to embed this important service in daily pharmacy practice.
Please feedback your successes and support needs to: mursupport@hampshirelpc.org.uk
Accreditation can be obtained through a number of sources:
MUR Top Tips are available for many conditions on the Chemist and Druggist website
The NPA and GSK have worked together on two CD-ROM training initiatives: Communications Skills 2 and MURs - making them happen. Both of these are available free of charge to NPA members by contacting the GSK Customer Service Centre on 0800 221441.
The three criteria for accreditation are:
- The consultation area is a designated area where both the patient and pharmacist can sit down together;
- The patient and pharmacist are able to talk at normal speaking volumes without being overheard by other visitors to the pharmacy, or by pharmacy staff undertaking their normal duties;
- The consultation area is clearly designated as an area for confidential consultations, distinct from the general public areas of the pharmacy.
Whilst not a requirement for MURs, it is recommended that contractors invest in a consultation area which will meet the potential criteria to deliver future commissioned Enhanced Services including an appropriate sink, a networked computer for pharmacist access to patients records during consultations, a panic alarm button and create an inviting, but professional environment. An NPA document on Making Best Use of Consultation Areas is now available. | 
