Our practice is part of a national programme to improve the safety and effectiveness of medicines. The NHS is encouraging all general practices to review medications more closely, especially for people who take several medicines or whose health has changed. The Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) oversees this work locally, ensuring we follow national guidance and keep prescribing safe.

Why closer monitoring is important

• Multiple medicines: Many patients take several medicines. Taking eight or more prescribed medicines is common. Although medicines are essential for managing health conditions, taking many different ones can increase the risk of side‑effects or interactions. Making Medicines Work For You Fact Sheet
• Keeping medicines working: Medicines should be reviewed regularly to ensure they are still the right choice for you and that the dose is safe. NHS guidance recommends extra checks and blood tests for certain medicines, especially if you’re older, have kidney or liver problems or are taking multiple medicines - details on monitoring can be found here.
• Shared responsibility: Our goal is to make sure medicines are used well and safely, avoid unnecessary medicines and encourage you to understand and be involved in decisions about your care.

What this means for you

• Earlier appointments: We may invite you for blood tests or a medication review sooner than your usual annual check-up if clinical guidance or your condition changes. This helps us adjust doses and prevent problems.
• Discussing your medicines: When you need medication, we will work with you to choose the right medicine at the right time and discuss the benefits, risks and alternatives. Any decision to start, stop or change a medicine will be taken with you - Reducing Polypharmacy Information & Support Tools

How you can help

• Ask questions: If you’re unsure what a medicine is for, ask your pharmacist. It’s okay to ask if you have concerns about side effects or whether a medicine is still needed.
• Take medicines as prescribed: To get the most benefit, take medicines exactly as the label says. If you stop a medicine or change how you take it, please let us know so we can help you decide what’s best.
• Avoid waste: Check what medicines you already have before ordering more and only request what you need. The NHS spends hundreds of millions of pounds each year on unused medicines. If you’re not using a prescribed medicine, tell us.

Learn More

• Medicines optimisation and pharmacy service: Read how the ICB works with healthcare teams to ensure medicines are used safely and appropriately hertsandwestessex.ics.nhs.uk.
• Your medication (HWE ICB): Practical advice on taking medicines and reducing waste hertsandwestessex.ics.nhs.uk.
• Age UK: Managing multiple medicines: Tips on how to keep medicines working for you and when to review themhertsandwestessex.ics.nhs.uk.
• NICE: Using medicines safely: Information on talking to your healthcare team about medicines and making decisions together.

If you’re invited for a review or extra test, please attend – it’s an important part of keeping your medicines safe and effective.