Medicines Waste
Everybody has a part to play in reducing medicines waste. On this page you will find information on what you can do to help.
It has been estimated that of NHS prescribed medicines are wasted each year
Everybody has a part to play in reducing medicines waste
Find out what you can do to help
Only order the items you need
✓ Check what medicines you have at home before re-ordering
✓ When ordering your repeat prescription, think carefully before ticking all the boxes and only tick the items you really need
✓ If you don’t need the medicine this time please don’t order it. It will not disappear from your prescription; if you need the medicine in the future you can still request it
✓ Please let your GP or Pharmacist know if you’ve stopped taking any of your medicines for any reason, it is important that they know
✓ Please also remember that your medicines are prescribed only for you; it’s not safe to share them with anyone else.
Check your bag
Did you know?
Even if you never open them, once medicines have left the pharmacy, they cannot be recycled or used by anyone else.
Open your prescription bag whilst you are still inside the pharmacy and return any unwanted items to the pharmacy staff before you leave.
Going into hospital?
✓ Don't forget to put all your medicines into your green bag so you can keep taking them without delay.
✓ Please take all medicines in the bottles or boxes they were supplied in.
✓ Green bags can be obtained from your GP practice or care home.
✓ Have you had your medicines changed at outpatients or in hospital? Don't forget to tell your GP and Community Pharmacist as soon as possible.
