Are your medicines stacking up? Only order what you need.

Every year, about £20 million worth of medicine goes to waste in the North East and North Cumbria. This includes things like inhalers, pain medicine, and creams. The NHS needs your help! Following these easy steps when ordering your medicines: 

How you can help

1. Only order what you need - before getting more, check what medicine you already have. 
2. Return extras – when picking up your medicine at the pharmacy, only take what you need. If you return something before leaving, it can be used again. 
3. Stick to your routine – order your medicine when you're running low, but not too soon.

By doing this, you will: 
 Get the right medicines and care 
 Help reduce waste 
 Save NHS resources 

It’s also safer! Keeping too much medicine can cause confusion, especially if your prescription changes. 
If you have questions, your doctor or pharmacist can help. Reach out to them for advice. 

For more information visit reducemedicinewaste.co.uk

Published on 6 June 2025