Campaign to cut unused drugs that cost NHS £300m

The NHS is losing millions of pounds every year on unused prescriptions

A campaign has been launched to try and reduce the amount of unused medicines that costs the NHS around £300 million a year.

The NHS in Suffolk and Essex has taken to social media, videos and posters to encourage people to return unused prescriptions to pharmacies and not to stockpile or throw them away.

Across the UK, it is estimated £100 million worth of medicines are returned to pharmacies, but a further £90 million worth of unused prescription medicines are stored at home.

Tania Farrow, who is leading the campaign on behalf of NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, said: “We really want to make an impact in reducing the amount of unused medicines we waste."

'Work together'

Mrs Farrow told BBC Essex the campaign was to "highlight what we can all do to make sure we use medicine properly".

She added: "It is an issue where patients, GPs, pharmacists and hospitals can all work together to make a difference.

"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."

A NHS spokesperson said it was estimated unused medicine costs the health service around £300 million a year.

They advise patients to "avoid stockpiling", which would help manage medicine shortages.

Patients should check their stock first and not to reorder medications until they have "around two weeks left".

Unused medicines could also have a negative impact on the environment if thrown away. They should be returned to a pharmacy for disposal.

Medicines returned to a pharmacy cannot be reused for other patients even if they are unopened, due to safety issues.