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Your Medication

Pharmacist Prescriber

Tōtara Health employs a Pharmacist Prescriber who supports the general practice team. Their role is to manage and monitor medications and provide specialist advice and input into your patient care plan. 

Talk to your doctor or nurse about whether meeting with the Pharmacist Prescriber would be helpful for you. See the section below 'When should I ask to see the Pharmacist Prescriber?' to help you decide if this would be a good option for you.

The Pharmacist Prescriber works with you and your Doctor on:

  • Getting the best from medicines
  • If you have had any medicine changes after recently being in hospital
  • Blood Pressure Management
  • Diabetes Management
  • Cholesterol Management
  • Heart disease management (eg Angina, Heart Failure, stopping blood clots)
  • Asthma and COPD management
  • Gout
  • Eczema
  • Helping you to stop smoking
  • Providing information on your medicine or helping you access more information about your medicines
  • Links with your community pharmacist to make it as easy as possible for you to take your medicines and understand what they are for


The Pharmacist Prescriber reviews your medicines with you and your Doctor if you are having problems with your medicines such as:

  • Side effects
  • Hard to use medicines (e.g. inhalers, creams)
  • Cost
  • Taking too many

You may be asked to see the  Pharmacist Prescriber if:

  • You have been to hospital recently
  • You are taking lots of medicines.
  • Need help managing diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or Asthma/COPD
  • Your medicines are causing problems


When should I ask to see the Pharmacist Prescriber?

  • If you are worried about your medicines (e.g. too many medicines, side effects, the medicine is not working or the medicine is expensive)
  • You would like to know more about your medicines
  • You would like to check you are taking your medicines correctly

What should I bring with me to see the Pharmacist Prescriber?

Please bring all your medicines you take. This includes:

  • Medicines prescribed by your doctor
  • Medicines you buy from the pharmacy or the supermarket
  • Vitamins, supplements or herbal products
  • Rongoa or traditional medicines
  • If you have one, bring your medicine Yellow Card, CarePlus book or Care Plan. Write down the questions you would like the Pharmacist Prescriber to help you with before you meet.