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Boots has launched a new text message-based prescription reminder service that will send patients a prompt close to their re-order date.

The service builds on the company’s PrescriptionPlus Online offering, which Boots says has led to 43 per cent of online repeat orders being placed “directly” through an email reminder prompt.

Boots said the launch of the text message reminder service aims to help patients manage their repeat prescriptions more effectively and boost medicines adherence, quoting 2009 research that suggested 30-50 per cent of patients do not take their medicines as prescribed.

Forgetting to order repeats and having to remember to take multiple medicines were cited as key contributing factors to poor adherence.

Anne Higgins, pharmacy director at Boots, said: “We understand that life can be busy and remembering to re-order repeat prescriptions can be a challenge.

“Missing medication can have a real impact on a person's health, so in the last year we’ve launched PrescriptionsPlus making the customer journey from order to collection of prescriptions seamless.

“This service gives customers access to real time order tracking, integration with the NHS app, free delivery and now text message re-order reminders, making medication easier to manage than ever before.”

PrescriptionPlus offers free deliveries to patients registered with a GP in England, with in-store collection available to patients in other parts of the UK who are registered with participating GP surgeries.