Patients encouraged to reduce medication waste to alleviate NHS costs

The National Health Service (NHS) in England is appealing to patients to decrease the amount of unused medication, citing an estimated annual expenditure of £300 million. According to Frimley Health and Care Integrated Care System (ICS), the problem of medicine waste, which encompasses unused prescriptions discarded by care homes and expired supplies, incurs an annual cost of £4 million for the organization. An ICS spokesperson advised that individuals should periodically review their medications with their healthcare providers, refrain from accumulating excess supplies, and ensure the safe return of any unused medicines. The spokesperson further stated: “We know that community-wide initiatives, combined with individual actions, can make a significant difference.” The ICS operates as a collaborative entity formed by NHS and local government bodies, aiming to integrate health and care provisions across specific areas of Surrey, Berkshire, and Hampshire. The overall estimated cost of £300 million comprises £150 million attributed to unused prescriptions, £50 million from medications discarded by care homes, with the remaining amount stemming from problems like expired inventory or excessive prescribing. The ICS spokesperson highlighted “simple, impactful steps” that patients can implement to minimize medicine waste, such as ordering only necessary quantities and verifying existing medicine supplies prior to requesting new prescriptions. They further advised: “If unsure ask. Not all medicines are designed to be taken long term. “If you have a medicine that you no longer need, that is causing you side-effects or that you feel you shouldn’t be prescribed any more – talk to your health care team. “Prescribers really want to hear what you think about your medication so please do tell them.” Readers are invited to follow BBC Surrey on Facebook and X, and to submit story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 08081 002250. This material is copyrighted by BBC 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC clarifies that it is not accountable for the content found on external sites and provides details regarding its policy on external linking.