Reducing medicines waste - Norfolk & Suffolk ICB

A large amount of medicines are wasted in Norfolk and Suffolk each year. We need your help to reduce this.

Why is this important?

Always check your stocks before ordering and only order what you need. By avoiding stockpiling and keeping all your medicines current and in date, your home will be safer for children, vulnerable adults and pets.

If you have any issues with your medicines, including experiencing side effects or being unable to take a medicine, talk to your GP practice or pharmacy. They will ensure you are getting the best out of your medicines and will help you to stay well.

Managing your medicines is an important part of staying well with a long-term condition. If you order your medicines using the NHS App, you can follow your prescription through the process, knowing where it is at every stage so you can see when it’s ready to collect.

If you are admitted to hospital, try to take your current medications with you. This helps your hospital team to see exactly what you are taking and avoids unnecessary wastage.

When you dispose of medicines safely, by handing them in to your pharmacy, you are helping to make sure that waste medicines do not pollute our rivers and seas.

Empty inhalers can also be returned to prevent any remaining greenhouse gases leaking into the atmosphere from landfill sites. Cardboard and paper packaging can be recycled at home.

Only ordering what you need means that you are helping the environment because once medicines have left the pharmacy, they cannot be recycled or used by anyone else.

What we can do

The good news is there is a lot we can do to tackle medicines waste, and everyone can play a part.

Thank you for helping your community to reduce medicine waste.

Only order what you need

Check what medicines you have at home before you order your repeat prescriptions. If you have enough, only request the medicines you need this time. You will still be able to order others again in future

You can manage your repeat prescriptions via the NHS App at a time convenient for you.

Speak to your pharmacy team or GP practice if you have any questions about how to change your prescription request.

Let us know if your medicines are no longer right for you

Let your pharmacy team or GP practice know if you’ve stopped taking any of your medicines or if they’re no longer right for you.

Please attend your regular medication reviews, or request a medication review with your practice, to make sure medicines are optimised for you, and your team can improve your healthcare.

Medicines are only prescribed for you and for safety’s sake should not be shared with anyone else.

Take your medicines into hospital

If you know you’re going into hospital for treatment, please take all your prescription medication with you.

Dispose of medicines safely

Dispose of your medicines safely by returning them to your pharmacy to prevent medicines waste entering landfill and polluting rivers, seas and soil.

Return all unwanted and used inhaler devices to your pharmacy for safe disposal, to prevent release of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

If using, learn how to recycle your pre-filled Novo Nordisk or Sanofi pens. You can return your yellow sharps box to a participating pharmacy for safe disposal. Learn more about how to return your box in Norfolk or Suffolk.

Everyone has a part to play to reduce the waste of prescription medicines.

How can you help? Check which medicines you already have at home before you reorder more.

Remember, don’t tick it if you don’t need it. There’s no need to worry, the item will not disappear from your repeat prescription. It will still be there the next time that you need to order your medication.

Also, having regular discussions with your pharmacist and GP will mean that you get the right help with taking your medicines. If everyone makes these small changes, then together we can make a massive difference to reducing medicines waste and looking after our NHS.

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