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MUR

Medicines Use Review and Prescription Intervention Service

The first Advanced service introduced within the NHS community pharmacy contract was the Medicines Use Review (MUR) and Prescription Intervention Service. 

The service consists of accredited pharmacists undertaking structured adherence-centred reviews with patients on multiple medicines, particularly those receiving medicines for long term conditions. The MUR process attempts to establish a picture of the patient's use of their medicines - both prescribed and non-prescribed. The review will help patients understand their therapy and it will identify any problems they are experiencing along with possible solutions. A report of the review will be provided to the patient and to their GP where there is an issue for them to consider.

In order to address local priorities, PCTs may recommend that MURs are targeted at certain patient groups.

Service Specification and Secretary of State Directions

The nationally agreed service specification contains essential information for any pharmacist providing MURs. Since the service specification was published there have been a number of changes made to the way MURs should be conducted; these changes are detailed in the Secretary of State Directions.

The Secretary of State Directions provide the regulatory framework under which the MUR service is provided. The links below provide access to the original Secretary of State Directions and the subsequent amendment Directions. These Directions are also printed in the Drug Tariff.

PSNC has prepared a consolidation document, based on the 2005 Directions, and incorporating all the subsequent changes (up to and including the December 2007 amendment). This is provided as an aid to pharmacy contractors to assist their understanding of the Directions and has no legislative authority.  In all cases, the only documents that have legal force, are the Directions detailed below.

The Pharmaceutical Services (Advanced and Enhanced Services) (England) Directions 2005

The Pharmaceutical Services (Advanced and Enhanced Services) (England) Amendment Directions 2005

The National Health Service (Miscellaneous Amendments Relating to Prescribing, Pharmaceutical Services and Local Pharmaceutical Services etc.) (England) Directions 2006

The Pharmaceutical Services (Advanced and Enhanced Services) (England) Amendment Directions 2006

The Pharmaceutical Services (Advanced and Enhanced Services) (England) (Amendment) Directions 2007

MUR Quick Links

1. MURs: the basics
2. MURs and Prescription Interventions - what is the difference?
3. The NHS MUR Form
4. How do Pharmacists gain accreditation to provide MURs? 
5. What are the pharmacy premises (consultation area) accreditation requirements for MURs? (includes PREM1 form)
6. Can MURs be provided off the pharmacy premises? (includes PREM2 form)
7. How many MURs have been conducted? (MUR statistics section)
8. What payment is made to pharmacies for providing MURs? 
9. PCT monitoring of the MUR service (includes Annual regulatory standards checklist and declaration)
10. Other MUR Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

MUR resources

Click on the link below to access a range of resources to help pharmacists provide the MUR service.

MUR resources