📢 Medicines Waste: Only Order What You Need
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What’s the problem?
A report by the Department of Health estimates that unused medicines cost the NHS around £300 million every year, including:
- £110 million worth of medicine returned to pharmacies
- £90 million worth of unused prescriptions stored in homes
- £50 million worth of medicines disposed of by Care Homes
These figures don’t even reflect the potential impact on patients’ health when medicines are not taken as prescribed. Unused medication can lead to worsening symptoms and the need for additional treatments that might have been avoided.
Why are medicines wasted?
Sometimes patients receive medicines they don’t use or only use occasionally, missing out on the intended health benefits. Audits show that around half of all returned medication had not even been opened, meaning patients are ordering medicines they never start using.
Reducing medicine waste could free up significant NHS funding for other essential health services.
💬 Talk to your GP or pharmacist if:
- You have difficulty taking your medicines
- You have stopped taking any medicines
🩺 Let your GP know if, after taking your medicine:
- You are not feeling better
- You are experiencing side effects
- You don’t believe the medicine is right for you
💡 Your pharmacist can help explain:
- What your medicine is for
- Why you need to take it
- How to take it correctly
- Confirm it’s the right medicine if it looks different