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Wasted Medicines

Can you help reduce the cost of unused medicines?

Millions of pounds worth of prescription medicines are wasted across West Cheshire every year.  Each year patients return more than 13 tonnes worth of unused prescription medication to local pharmacies – the same weight as a double decker bus.

However, with just a third of unused medication returned to pharmacies for disposal, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

There are several ways people can help:

  • Check your stock of medicines before ordering a repeat prescription.
  • Only order those medicines that you need and are running out of.  Please don’t stockpile
  • Review your medicines regularly
  • Finish your course of medication – even if you start to feel better
  • Check what’s in your prescription bag before you leave the pharmacy

Did you know?
Even if you never open your medcines, once you leave the pharmacy your medicines cannot be recycled or used by anyone else.  This means any you return are destroyed.

The money that can be saved by asking people to think carefully about their prescription needs could be used to provide other important healthcare services.

If you have any questions about your medicine please ask your GP or Pharmacist.

Date published: 30 November 2014
Date last updated: 24 September 2020