A medication review at Your Community Pharmacy in Newport is free. A government-funded MedsCheck has its own program rules; ask the pharmacist whether you qualify.
Managing multiple medications can be confusing, but you don’t have to do it alone. Our Medication Review service is designed to help you understand your medications, ensure they are working effectively, and reduce the risk of side effects or interactions.
What is a Medication Review?
A Medication Review is a personalised consultation with our pharmacist where we go through all your medications—prescription, over-the-counter, and supplements—to make sure they are safe, effective, and suited to your needs.
How We Can Help
We will:
- review all your current medications
- check for possible side effects or interactions
- ensure correct dosages and usage
- answer your questions and concerns
- provide clear and easy-to-follow guidance
Who Should Get a Medication Review?
This service is ideal if you:
- take multiple medications regularly
- have recently started or changed medications
- experience side effects or confusion with your medicines
- want to better understand your treatment plan
Why It Matters
A regular medication review can improve your health outcomes, prevent medication-related problems, and give you confidence in managing your treatment.
Health Tips
- Take medications exactly as prescribed for best results
- Keep an updated list of all medications and supplements
- Avoid mixing medicines without professional advice
- Watch for side effects and report any concerns early
- Store medications properly to maintain effectiveness
What happens in a medication review
Bring all of your medicines with you, including creams, puffers, vitamins and herbal products, or a current list if that is easier. The pharmacist will go through them with you and note anything worth raising with your GP.
A review is also worth asking for if you have recently left hospital.
MedsCheck
A MedsCheck is a government-funded medication review held in a private area of the pharmacy. Under the program rules, you may be eligible if you hold a Medicare or DVA card (or are eligible for Medicare), live at home rather than in aged care, and have not had a MedsCheck, Home Medicines Review or similar review in the past 12 months. You also need at least one of these:
- you take five or more prescription medicines
- you have recently had a significant medical event
- you take a medicine with a high risk of side effects
Eligible people cannot be charged for it, and you leave with an action plan of the goals you agreed on. A separate Diabetes MedsCheck is for people whose type 2 diabetes was diagnosed in the last 12 months or is not well controlled, and who cannot get timely access to diabetes education services. It sits well alongside our diabetes monitoring.
Home Medicines Review (HMR)
A Home Medicines Review takes place in your own home rather than at the pharmacy. Under the HMR program, your GP (or certain specialists) confirms a clinical need and refers you to a credentialed pharmacist, who visits you, reviews your medicines and sends a written report back to your doctor. It is free for eligible Medicare or DVA cardholders living in the community who are at risk of problems with their medicines.
Your Community Pharmacy does not make home visits, but we can talk through whether an HMR might help and suggest you ask your GP about a referral. If you would rather start with a question, contact us or call (02) 9999 1186.
Making daily medicines easier
Many people find a Webster Pak makes daily doses easier to follow, and free delivery brings scripts to your door (call to check your address). If a script is cheaper elsewhere, ask about our price match. Our article on medication reviews in Newport has more background.
If the review shows you take a strong opioid pain reliever, ask about Take Home Naloxone, which is free without a prescription for anyone who may experience or witness an opioid overdose.
A medication review is one of our preventive and monitoring services; that page explains which check suits you.
Common questions
Who can have a MedsCheck in Newport?
Anyone who meets the program rules above, which cover Medicare eligibility, living at home, the medicines you take and when you last had a review. The pharmacist can check them with you.
How do I get a Home Medicines Review on the Northern Beaches?
Ask your GP. If they agree it would help, they refer you to a credentialed pharmacist who visits your home. We are happy to explain how the process works before you go.
What should I bring to a medication review?
Every medicine you use, plus any recent letters from specialists or the hospital about changes.
How often should my medicines be reviewed?
Under the program rules, one MedsCheck can be done every 12 months. If a new medicine is added or you notice side effects before then, ask the pharmacist anyway. The health services page lists our other free checks, such as a blood pressure check, and the FAQs cover everyday questions about the pharmacy.