It is estimated that £90 million worth of unused prescription medicines are stored in homes
The NHS in Suffolk and North East Essex has launched a new campaign to reduce the amount of unused medicines that cost the NHS around £300 million a year.
Across the UK, it is estimated that £100 million worth of medicines are returned to pharmacies, with an additional £90 million of unused prescription medicines stored in homes.
Through social media, posters, and videos, people are encouraged to return unused prescriptions to pharmacies and avoid stockpiling or throwing them away.
Reducing medicines waste not only saves money that can be reinvested into patient care within the NHS, but it’s also better for the environment.
Tania Farrow, who is leading the campaign on behalf of NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), highlighted that everyone has a part to play in reducing medicines waste.
“It is an issue where patients, GPs, pharmacists and hospitals can all work together to make a difference,” she said.
Patients are advised to keep no more than a one-month supply at home and to review their medicine stock before placing new orders.
Farrow said: “We know some patients do like to have a spare stock of medicines ‘just in case’ but we recommend only having a maximum of one month’s supply at home. This means that if any medicines are changed or stopped, the amount wasted will be reduced.
“Unwanted dispensed medicines returned to the pharmacy cannot be reused for other patients even if they are unopened, due to safety issues.
“We are asking patients to check their medicines stocks before ordering, ordering only those medicines that are needed and avoiding stockpiling, which in turn helps to manage medicines shortages.”
Anyone unsure about their medicines should consult their pharmacist or GP practice., she noted.
For any unwanted medicines that are no longer in use, she recommended returning them to a local community pharmacy for safe disposal.
