It is estimated that more than 2million repeat prescription items are wasted in Kent and Medway each year.
Stockpiling medicine, asking for more than you need on a prescription, or routinely picking up repeat prescriptions without checking, costs the NHS money and deprives others from using those medicines.
Some medication may also have reached the use by date and might not work as intended, meaning your care could be compromised.
Stockpiles of medicines kept at home can also be dangerous for children and pets.
Help reduce medicines waste with these simple steps
- check what medications you already have at home.
- only order the items you need (you will still be able to order the other items when you need them)
- check the medicines bag before you leave the pharmacy (you can hand back any items you don’t need, and they can be reused)
- talk to your pharmacist or GP if you feel a medication isn’t working for you
- speak to your pharmacy team if you have any questions about how to change your prescription request.
If you’re going into hospital
- take your medication with you
- take a list of all the medications you take (including prescription items and medications that you buy)
- check the medicines bag before you leave the hospital (you can hand back any items you don’t need, and they can be reused)
If you have any unused or out of date medicine, please take it to your pharmacy so they can dispose of it safely.