Help save millions!

Did you know that wasted medicines cost NHS Hertfordshire £7 million each year, this means that about one in every 20 medicines prescribed is unused and that this is money that could be spent on 1400 hip operations, 980 heart by-pass operations or 210 community nurses?

Heather Gray, Head of Pharmacy and Medicines Management at NHS Hertfordshire said, "When it comes to medicines there are lots of ways that people can help the NHS make best use of its resources.  These include checking what medicines you still have at home every time you re-order your repeat medicines, only order  the medicines you need, not ordering the medicines you don't need and letting your GP  or pharmacist know if you've stopped taking any of your medicines.  If you have asked your pharmacist to order medicines for you, make sure they always check with you each time they order the medicines so that only the medicines you need are ordered. And you should always take the full course of medicines, even if you start to feel better; if you don't then this might mean that you delay your recovery and have to take another full course of medication.

"Don't forget that your community pharmacist is your local medicines expert so talk to them about getting the best out of your medication".

And how about adding simple medicines to your basket each time you do your weekly shop or visit your local pharmacy?  A staggering £3 million of the local NHS budget is spent on providing medicines such as paracetamol, hay fever remedies and indigestion tables on prescription.  This is money that we can't spend on more complex medicines or treatment.  You can pick up these items on the High Street or at your local shopping parade for less than £1, with painkillers available for as little at 16p.  So why not add them to your weekly shop?  This way you'll be prepared for life's little emergencies and you'll be helping the NHS to use its resources wisely.

If everyone in Hertfordshire didn’t order one repeat medicine they didn’t need or bought a simple over the counter medicine rather then get a prescription, just once a year, this could save the NHS Hertfordshire more than a million pounds. . The NHS belongs to us all.  Let's use it right.

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