A campaign is being launched this week to save the £7 million lost every year from wasted medication in Derbyshire.
It will focus on cutting the number repeat prescriptions, ordered and collected when the patient has stopped using the drugs.
It is also concerned about the risk to young children of having unused medications around the home. Derbyshire County Pr
imary Care Trust launched the on-going NHS initiative on Monday.
Alan Meakin, medical director at Derbyshire County PCT, which is responsible for chemists and doctors in the county, said: "Wasted medicines mean 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."
GPs and pharmacies will be at the centre of the campaign with thousands of leaflets being given out at surgeries and pharmacies throughout the county.
Posters will also be displayed on buses across Derbyshire and the East Midlands to raise more public awareness.
The Department of Health estimates as much as 10 per cent of all drugs prescribed are wasted.
That is a cost of up to £800 million nationally each year. The £7 million in Derbyshire alone could pay for 980 more heart bypass operations, 1,400 more hip replacements or 210 more community nurses.
David Evans, Chief Pharmacist with Manor Pharmacy, which has outlets in Ripley, Heanor and thoughout Derbyshire, said: "We are fully supportive of this campaign. The NHS have pressured resources as we know and it is sensible and safe not to order medication that you don't need.
"The best thing to do is return any unwanted medication to your pharmacy so it can be safely disposed of. Diabetics for example though, must remember to seperate any needles for disposal from medication for the safety of our staff."
For more information visit
www.medicinewaste-eastmidlands.com or talk to your pharmacist.
