Medicines Waste
Help your local NHS tackle the problem of medicine waste.
Medicine wastage is a serious and growing problem within the NHS. Sometimes, patients or carers with repeat prescriptions continue to get more medicines than they really need and stockpile them at home. This wastes millions of pounds and huge quantities of medicines. Unused prescription medicines cost Leeds PCT over £5 million every year.
Unused medicines cannot be recycled.
Even if you never open them, once medicines have left the pharmacy or dispensary they cannot be recycled or used by anyone else. Please bring your unused medicines to the pharmacy or dispensary for safe disposal.
Unused medicines are a safety risk.
Unused medicines kept at home are a safety risk for children and others who might take them.
How can you help?
- Only order what you need
- Let your GP or pharmacist know if you’ve stopped taking any of your medicines.
- Check what medicines you still have at home before re-ordering.
- Discuss your medication with your pharmacist or GP on a regular basis. A confidential medicines check-up with your pharmacist will help you find out more about your medicines, identify any problems and help you take your medicines in the best way.
- Think carefully before ticking all the boxes on your repeat prescription forms and only tick those you really need.
- If you don’t need the medicine, don’t order it! If you need the medicine in the future you can still request it.
- If you need to go into hospital, please take all your medicines with you.
- Please remember your medicines are prescribed for you. It is not safe to share them.
Unused Prescription Medicines Cost Leeds NHS Over £5 Million Every Year.
That could pay for...
- 1000 MORE hip replacements
- OR
- 700 MORE heart by-pass operations
- OR
- 7,000 MORE cataract operations
- OR
- 150 MORE community nurses
- OR
- 900 MORE knee replacements
Remember ... only order what you need and help us make more of your local NHS.
