NHS TEAMS are urging the public to take care when managing their repeat prescriptions.
The Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire health region spends around £22 million on medicines each month, with around 2.5 million prescriptions issued.
Around three-quarters of prescriptions dispensed in the UK are repeats, but it is estimated that around 10% of these are not required by patients, who already have sufficient supplies.
This in turn means that they often end up being disposed of, with proper disposal playing a crucial part in environmental protection.
This is because expired medication not only has the potential to be harmful if taken, but can also be harmful to the environment when improperly disposed of.
Proper prescription management helps safeguard vital medications, reduce waste, and protect both personal health and the environment.
Pharmacist Nabeela Ali said: “I encourage open discussions with patients about their repeat prescriptions, ensuring they only have the medicines they need.”
“I advise patients to check their medicine cabinet before placing an order–it’s heartening to see more people being mindful of their prescriptions and disposing of expired medicines at their local pharmacy.”
“This approach ensures people remain healthy by using the right or ‘in date’ medicines, while helping prevent unnecessary stockpiling.
“Ordering too much medication not only increases the risk of shortages for those who need it, but stockpiling can also be dangerous, especially in homes with children or pets.”
