Charles Walker asks the Health Secretary about steps being taken to educate Hertfordshire GPs about the terms of the medicine use review.

Mr. Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to educate Hertfordshire GPs about the terms of the medicine use review; and if she will make a statement. [61780]

Ms Rosie Winterton: Medicine use review (MUR) is an advanced service introduced as part of the new contractual framework for community pharmacy. The underlying purpose of this service is, for pharmacists, with the patient's agreement, to improve a patient's knowledge and use of medicines. In particular, the pharmacist can identify side effects and drug interactions that may affect the patient's compliance with instructions given to them by a health professional for taking the medicines and improve the clinical and cost effectiveness of medicines prescribed for patients, thereby reducing waste.

This is a matter for determination by the local primary care trust and I am advised there are a number of local initiatives underway or being developed. The Department has issued national guidance to all PCTs on MURs and information leaflets publicising the service have been made available to patents. No specific national guidance has been issued to general practitioners.

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