LHB URGES PEOPLE TO STOP AND THINK TO REDUCE MEDICINE WASTAGE

Caerphilly Local Health Board (LHB) is urging people to reduce the amount of medicines they waste, saving millions of pounds each year for the NHS in Wales.

A new TV advert – ‘Making Sense with Medicines’ - is launched this week to get people to think before they automatically re-order medicines and only request what is really needed.

Judith Paget, chief executive of Caerphilly Local Health Board, said: “Millions of pounds are wasted every year in Wales on medicines that are prescribed but not used, money which could be spent on patient care and other areas of the NHS. We are asking everyone to stop and think before re-ordering items on their repeat prescriptions.”

Caerphilly LHB has the following advice for patients to help stop medicines being wasted:

• only order the items you need
• if any of your medicines have been stopped or changed, make sure you tell your GP
• find out the names of your medicines and ask your pharmacist or GP what they are for
• don’t be tempted to order medicines ‘just in case’ as stockpiling can be dangerous – medicines can go out of date or fall into the wrong hands
• always speak to your GP if you have a problem with your repeat prescription
• return any medicines that are no longer needed to your pharmacy for safe disposal