The Medicines, Care and Review Service (MCR) can make it easier to get regular medicines for a long-term condition.
If your medicines are stable and suitable for the service, we may issue a serial prescription. This allows your registered community pharmacy to provide your regular medication without you having to request a repeat prescription from the practice each time.
If we have sent you a text message about MCR
If you have received a text message from us directing you to this page, we have already sent your serial prescription to your registered pharmacy.
Please contact your pharmacy to arrange your first supply.
If you need medicine urgently
Do not wait for your next MCR supply if you have run out of an important medicine or need medication urgently.
Contact your community pharmacy as soon as possible. A pharmacist can advise you what to do and may be able to provide an emergency supply.
If the pharmacy cannot help and the practice is open, contact us.
If you need urgent help with medication when the practice is closed, phone NHS 24 on 111 for advice.
Get help if you have run out of medicine – NHS inform
How serial prescriptions work
Your GP or practice pharmacist will decide whether your medicines are suitable for a serial prescription.
If they are:
- we send the serial prescription to your registered pharmacy
- your pharmacy keeps the prescription and supplies your medication at the agreed intervals
- you do not need to order the medicines covered by the serial prescription from the practice each time
- your pharmacy will tell you when your next supply should be available
- when the serial prescription is coming to an end, your pharmacy can contact the practice about the next prescription.
Your serial prescription will normally last for 48 weeks. Your pharmacy will hold the prescription and provide your regular medicines every 2 months.
When you collect your medicines, your pharmacy will tell you when your next supply will be ready.
Medicines you take only when needed
Medicines prescribed to be taken when required may not be included in your regular supply.
If you need more of one of these medicines, request it separately using the usual repeat prescription service.
If your medication changes
Your medication can still be changed while you have a serial prescription.
If we stop or change a medicine included on your serial prescription, we will let you and your pharmacy know.
You may temporarily return to normal repeat prescriptions if this is more appropriate for your treatment.
Medication reviews and monitoring
Having a serial prescription does not replace your usual medical care.
We may still ask you to:
- have a medication review
- attend for blood tests or other monitoring
- speak to a GP, pharmacist or another healthcare professional.
Please complete any reviews or monitoring when requested. This helps us make sure your medicines remain safe and appropriate for you.
Registering for the service
You need to be registered for the Medicines, Care and Review Service with a community pharmacy.
You can only be registered with one pharmacy at a time for this service.
If you are not already registered, your pharmacy may ask you to complete an MCR registration form when you collect your medication.
If you have questions about MCR
Speak to your community pharmacist if you have questions about:
- when your next supply will be ready
- collecting medication from your serial prescription
- registering for MCR
- how the service works.
The Medicines, Care and Review Service is voluntary. You can ask your pharmacist to cancel your registration if you no longer want to use it.
Find out more about the Medicines, Care and Review Service – NHS inform