Live Campaigns

NHS Gloucestershire

NHS Gloucestershire launched a new medicine waste campaign on Tuesday 2nd November 2010 to help reduce the amount of waste in their area, which is estimated to be as high as £4.5 million annually.

GPs and pharmacy bosses across Gloucestershire are joining together to encourage people to think carefully about their use of medicines before ordering repeat prescriptions or keeping hold of unused drugs.

Debra Elliott, director of primary care commissioning at NHS Gloucestershire said: "Unwanted drugs in the home may mean that patients are not getting the benefit they could be from their medicines. It also represents a large amount of waste.

"Wasted medicines can't be used again so it is essential we work together to tackle this issue and provide patients with the best possible information.

 "By making improvements in this area, we can make better use of resources and invest in other areas of healthcare to benefit the community."

 Peter Badham, of Badhams Pharmacy, which has many branches in and around Cheltenham, said: "There are a number of reasons why medicines are going to waste, including patients no longer needing the drugs, but others may also be put at risk if unwanted drugs are left in the home."

 Anyone with unwanted medicines can return them to their local pharmacy or prescribing practice where they will be disposed of safely.

NHS North East Essex

NHS North East Essex launched a new medicine waste campaign on Tuesday 2nd November 2010 to help reduce the amount of waste in their area, which is estimated to be as high as £5 million annually.

Paul Breame, Assistant Director Medicines Management and Pharmacy Commissioning at NHS North East Essex said: “We are constantly looking at ways to deliver better and more effective patient care. Unwanted drugs in the home may mean that patients are not getting the benefit they could be from their medicines. It also represents a large amount of waste.

"Wasted medicine means wasted money. It can't be used again and if we could save some of that money we could reinvest it in other areas of healthcare to benefit the local community.

“There are a number of reasons why medicines are going to waste, including no longer needing the drugs, but others may also be put at risk if unwanted drugs are left in the home.

"If anyone has any unused medicines at home we're encouraging them to take them back to the pharmacy for safe disposal and have a chat with the pharmacist or prescribing GP about their medication and how to use them more effectively."

Please click to view photos of the NHS North East Essex Bus Advertising.

For more information visit:

northeastessexpct.nhs.uk/Health Services/medicine-waste_2.htm

NHS North Somerset

NHS North Somerset primary care trust wants community pharmacists, GPs and patients to play their part and help prevent the £3m that is wasted on unused medicines each year.

Gerry Keysell, the PCT’s Consultant Pharmacist in Medicine Management, said: "There are some very expensive and sophisticated drugs available to patients today but the most expensive drug of all is an unused medicine.

"One of the main concerns is medicines ordered on repeat prescriptions, which are collected by patients but are wasted because they have stopped using the drugs and for various reasons continue to order repeat prescriptions."

To this end the campaign will also encourage patients to have regular medicines use reviews with their pharmacist to make sure they are using their medicines appropriately. This may help to reduce avoidable hospital admissions. Many medicines are given to prevent further complications, therefore, if used inappropriately will potentially increase the risk of potentially life threatening complications such as stroke, MIs, COPD exacerbations and/or a decrease in the quality of life.

Dynamic’s North Somerset campaign which launched on Thursday 7th October runs through November and will be continued throughout the financial year with public education continuing throughout 2011.

Please click to view photos from NHS North Somerset Launch and Stakeholders event.

More new campaigns are due to launch imminently, please come back soon.