'If you don’t need it, don’t order it!'That’s the headline message of a new campaign aimed at reducing the amount of medicines ordered at the pharmacy by Island patients, but left unused. By reducing wastage, it’s estimated the Department of Health and Social Care could recoup around £300,000 per year which could fund improvements in the health service.
Pharmaceutical Adviser at the DHSC Maria Bell is encouraging patients who have a list of items on repeat prescription, to check what they have at home first before re-ordering. Unused medicines are regularly handed back to pharmacies but cannot be re-issued, even if returned unopened and still in date.
Ms Bell said:
‘Many people worry that they won’t be able to re-order items if they don’t tick them on their list each month – but that’s not the case. Items won’t drop off the patient’s list, as ‘repeats’ remain available unless they’re removed by a GP, after a review appointment. I fully understand some people need to take their medicines indefinitely, sometimes for life, and naturally wish to keep a supply to hand. This campaign is not about denying anyone anything – it’s about being practical and sensible.’
She added:
‘We regularly see large stockpiles of unused meds handed to pharmacies for destruction. This costly wastage can be reduced if patients order only what they need – and this also avoids the risk of taking a medicine in the future, which is out of date. Unwanted medicines in the home are a risk to everyone.’
DHSC Minister David Ashford will launch this year’s campaign at Lloyd’s Pharmacy in Shoprite, Victoria Road, Douglas on Monday 20 August at 2pm, accompanied by pharmacist Chus Mouro. Leaflets and posters will be displayed in pharmacies and GP surgeries in the coming weeks, and pharmacists will encourage members of the public to check their needs when receiving repeat prescriptions at the counter.
An audit carried out in 2017 saw community pharmacists in the Island log every item brought back to them for disposal over a two week period. Those medicines, thought to be only a fraction of the actual quantity being held in cabinets and cupboards at home, were valued at £12,000 – equating to more than £300k over a year, a sum which if saved, could be spent on new equipment, facilities and staff, for the benefit of patients.
