The multiple partnered with the East of England Respiratory Clinical Network and the University of Reading for research which found that 97% of surveyed patients “agreed or strongly agreed they were satisfied” with their MUR.

Of the 490 MURs conducted across 105 Day Lewis branches between June and August, patients were satisfied with “the time spent by the pharmacist listening” 98% of the time, and with the “pharmacist's personal approach” 99% of the time, the university said when it published its fundings on September 22.

Pharmacies are currently only paid to carry out a maximum of 400 MURs per year, and Day Lewis chief innovation officer Jay Patel told C+D last Friday (September 30) that the research raised the question of “why could there not be funding for more high quality patient-centred consultations – beyond 400”.

Mr Patel said he was unsurprised by the results of the research, because patients express their satisfaction with MURs “on a daily basis”.

The findings should be shared with pharmacy minister David Mowat, who should view them “as an opportunity for more nationally funded medicines optimisation services”.

“We are now focussing more on outcome-based MURs and new medicines service [interactions] – for example patients on four or more medicines,” Mr Patel added.

Only two thirds wanted an MUR at outset

The research also showed that while only two thirds of patients wanted to have an MUR at the outset of their pharmacy visit, nine in 10 said they would use the service again.

There is an “urgent need” to carry out MURs on a larger group of patients to confirm the research’s findings, the University of Reading added.

Last week, NHS England’s Jill Loader told pharmacists that the Guardian’s accusations in April of MUR abuses at Boots means the sector needs to offer “assurances" that the services it provides are "effective".