Medicines use reviews: what they are for and how to make use of them.

Many people are not able to take their medication as it has been prescribed, for many reasons. Medicines Use Reviews (MURs), introduced as part of the 2005 Community Pharmacist Contract, provide the opportunity for pharmacists to offer NHS consultations, held privately, to discuss their customers' medication with them. The MUR can help to identify any side-effects or reasons why the medication might be ineffective or simply not taken, and agree an action plan which will then be shared with the general practitioner and other significant people involved in their care. This article highlights what this process entails, and how MURs offer an opportunity for even greater multi-disciplinary working, enhancing communication and ensuring best use of NHS resources.