Uncollected medicine costs NHS millions - pharmacist

A Telford pharmacist is appealing to patients to call the practice if they no longer need prescribed medicines as NHS commissioners reveal that the issue costs the county a staggering £2.6m a year.

Pharmacist Nigel Dugmore, who is also a Conservative councillor in Telford and Wrekin, said 200-300 items were regularly not picked up from his Donnington Pharmacy each month.

Medicines have to be kept for six months before they can be put out on the shelves, and by that time they can be out of date, he said.

Dr Lorna Clarson, chief medical officer at NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, said: "Uncollected prescriptions are a national issue, costing the NHS millions each year."

Pharmacies buy medicines for their stocks and can then claim the money back two months in arrears once a prescription is taken out.

Mr Dugmore said reasons items were not collected could be that people forget or get better, but asked patients to let the pharmacy know as every month drugs have to be thrown away for incineration as they have passed their use by date.

"My appeal would be for patients to call us and let us know that they no longer need their prescription.

"We can then use it for someone else if it hasn't gone out of date."

He added: "It is one of the reasons pharmacies are closing," said Mr Dugmore, who often turns up to council meetings in his pharmacy uniform.

Dr Clarson said: "NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin is aware of the impact locally, where unused medicines cost the system around £2.6 million annually."

She said that everyone has a role to play in reducing waste.

"Patients, GPs, pharmacists, and hospitals all have a role to play in reducing this waste," she said.

"We encourage people to only order the medication they need from their repeat prescriptions.

"Checking what you already have before reordering helps ensure essential medicines remain available for those who need them most.'

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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