Mr. Bernard Duggan:

I thank Senator Burke for his question. The new medicine service is currently being implemented across the water in the UK and we are calling for it to be introduced here. We know anecdotally that when we see our patients coming back having been prescribed a new medicine, they need increased support. For example, for certain types of condition for which the new medicine service is available in the UK, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and asthma, people are put on long-term medication to control the disease and to prevent it from getting worse and progressing.

In the new medicine service, when patients are initially prescribed medication, they will have an initial consultation with the pharmacist who will outline what the medicine is for, how the patients should take it and what they should do if they experience side effects. This is something we do when we dispense medication, but the difference with the new medicine service is that patients will return to the pharmacy on two separate occasions a number of weeks later when the pharmacist will again sit down with them to assess how they are getting on in taking the new medication.

Typically, we find that patients stop taking their medication in the early stages because they do not have support in taking it. They might, for example, experience a side effect and not know what to do. The new medicine service provides an outlet for them and allows them to sit down again with their pharmacist to discuss how they are getting on. If they are having medication problems because of the new medicine, the pharmacist can address them and either provide them with support to continue taking the medication or refer them back to or make contact with their GP in order to ensure they remain on some medication for their condition.