A Medicines Use Review (MUR) is a structured consultation between a pharmacist and a patient about their prescribed medicines. The aim is straightforward: to make sure patients understand what they are taking, why, and how to get the best results from their treatment. MURs are part of the NHS community pharmacy contractual framework and are free to the patient.
What happens during an MUR?
An MUR is a private, one-to-one conversation in the pharmacy consultation room. It typically lasts 10 to 15 minutes. The pharmacist will:
- Review all your medicines. This includes prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, and any supplements or herbal remedies you take regularly.
- Ask about your experience. Are you taking everything as prescribed? Have you missed doses? Are there side effects that bother you? Do you understand what each medicine is for?
- Identify any problems. The pharmacist looks for potential issues: medicines you've stopped taking without telling your GP, doses you find confusing, side effects that might be manageable with a different approach, or interactions between medicines.
- Agree on actions. If the pharmacist identifies something that could be improved, they will either advise you directly (for example, on the best time to take a medicine) or refer back to your GP with a recommendation.
The pharmacist sends a summary to your GP after every MUR, so your medical record stays up to date.
Who qualifies for an MUR?
MURs are available to any patient who has been prescribed one or more medicines by their GP and uses the same pharmacy regularly. In practice, pharmacists prioritise patients who are most likely to benefit:
- Patients taking multiple medicines. Those on four or more regular medicines (polypharmacy) are at higher risk of interactions, confusion, and non-adherence.
- Patients on high-risk medicines. Anticoagulants, anti-epileptics, immunosuppressants, and other medicines with narrow therapeutic windows require careful monitoring.
- Patients recently discharged from hospital. Medication changes made in hospital are a common source of confusion. An MUR can catch discrepancies between the hospital discharge summary and the GP's records.
- Patients with respiratory conditions. Inhaler technique is frequently suboptimal, and MURs provide an opportunity to check and correct it.
You do not need a referral from your GP. Your pharmacist may invite you for an MUR, or you can ask for one yourself.
How MURs differ from the New Medicine Service
The NHS funds two main adherence services through community pharmacies. They serve different purposes:
| Feature | Medicines Use Review (MUR) | New Medicine Service (NMS) |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | All current medicines | One newly prescribed medicine |
| Timing | Any time (annual or as needed) | Within first weeks of a new prescription |
| Target patients | Polypharmacy, high-risk medicines, post-discharge | Patients starting specific new medicines |
| Number of consultations | Usually one | Three contacts over 28 days |
| NHS fee to pharmacy | Varies by contract | £31.82 per completed episode |
Both services are free to the patient and confidential.
Why MURs matter
Research consistently shows that a significant proportion of patients do not take their medicines as prescribed. The World Health Organization has estimated that adherence to long-term therapies in developed countries averages around 50%. Non-adherence leads to poorer health outcomes, avoidable hospital admissions, and wasted NHS resources.
MURs address this by giving patients dedicated time with a pharmacist — something that GP appointments, often limited to 10 minutes across multiple health concerns, may not always provide. The consultation room setting also allows patients to raise concerns they might not mention at the dispensing counter.
What to bring to your MUR
If your pharmacist invites you for an MUR, or if you'd like to request one:
- Bring all your medicines — including anything bought over the counter, supplements, and items from other pharmacies or hospitals.
- Bring a list of questions. If there's anything about your medicines you don't understand or find difficult, this is the time to ask.
- Be honest about adherence. The pharmacist is not there to judge — they need an accurate picture to help you. If you've been skipping doses or stopped a medicine, say so.
Finding a pharmacy that offers MURs
Most community pharmacies in England are commissioned to provide MURs as part of their NHS contract. To find pharmacies near you, use PharmSee's pharmacy search. You can also explore pharmacy services by area using the location analysis tool.
For information about other pharmacy services, including the New Medicine Service and Pharmacy First consultations, browse the PharmSee blog.
Sources: NHS England community pharmacy contractual framework; Royal Pharmaceutical Society guidance on medicines optimisation. This article provides general information and does not constitute medical advice. Speak to your pharmacist or GP about your individual medicines.