Tuesday, 9:15am: WASTED medication is costing the NHS in Lincolnshire more than £5 million every year, according to health chiefs who have unveiled a major campaign to help save money.
For Lincolnshire Teaching Primary Care Trust (TPCT), this money could pay for 1,000 more hip replacements, 700 more heart by-pass operations, 7,000 more cataract operations or provide 150 more community nurses.
One of the main concerns highlighted
is the over ordering of repeat medicines when the patient already has sufficient stocks or no longer needs the medicine.
It will also be emphasised that dispensed medicines cannot be recycled; even unopened packs have to be disposed of through the pharmaceutical waste collection service.
All dispensing GP surgeries and community pharmacies in Lincolnshire participate in this scheme.
Anyone with unwanted medicines can return them to their local pharmacy or dispensing practice where they will be disposed of safely.
Patients are also being encouraged to have regular reviews of their medicines with their pharmacist or prescribing doctor to discuss any issues relating to their drugs.
Another focus of the campaign is to raise awareness of the dangers of having unused medicines lying around at home.
This may be a significant danger, particularly if there are young children present. Patients will also be encouraged to take all of their medicines with them when they go into hospital.
Stephen Gibson, head of prescribing and medicines management for Lincolnshire TPCT said: "More and more patients are receiving prescribed medicines on the NHS.
"This is, in turn, driving up levels of waste. Our main messages to Lincolnshire patients are to only order what you need; don't tick every item on your repeat order form when you don't need everything; and return any unused medicines to your local community pharmacy or dispensing surgery for safe disposal.
He added: "Wasted medicines mean wasted money. They cannot be reused.
"If we could save even a fraction of the money wasted, we could reinvest it in other areas of healthcare to benefit the local community."
Posters will be displayed on buses and bus shelters across Lincolnshire and thousands of posters and leaflets will also be distributed to GP surgeries and pharmacies.
Inserts have also been produced to be included in prescription bags at pharmacies and dispensing practices to emphasise the message.
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