Action Needed On Medicine Prescription Waste

Flame Health Pharmacy were shocked to learn that £300m of drugs are currently being thrown away each year.
This is for a variety of reasons, according to Clare Howard, NHS England's deputy chief pharmaceutical officer, including: 'the ways in which medicines are developed, doctors' prescribing habits, the ways in which "repeat" medicines are ordered, and of course patients' understanding of the importance of taking medicines as prescribed and ensuring they only order what they need'.
Doctors are now being urged to change the way in which they prescribe to offer more personal advice to patients and avoid prescribing large amounts of drugs to cover long periods of time.
The Royal College of GPs has said on the issue: 'Many patients expect a prescription at the end of their consultation, particularly antibiotics for common colds and infections that will get better naturally or respond better to other treatments, and this can make it difficult for GPs to prescribe appropriately.'
The NHS in England, Scotland and Wales have been working with Medicines Waste UK in launching a campaign to raise awareness of this issue.
To find out more, visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23374000
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