Only order what you need - Approximately £9.6 million is wasted each year in Gwent on unused or unnecessary repeat prescriptions. We need your help to reduce this.
Staying Well - Unused medicines expire and might not work as intended, meaning your care might be compromised. Stockpiling medicines worsens drug shortages.
Staying Safe - Stockpiles of medicines kept at home can be dangerous for children and pets. Medicines are only prescribed for you and for safety’s sake should not be shared with anyone else.
Staying Green - When you dispose of medicines properly, by handing them in to your pharmacy, you are helping to make sure that waste medicines do not pollute our rivers and seas. 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.
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. Speak to your pharmacy team if you have any questions about how to change your prescription request.
Open your prescription bag - Check your prescription bag before leaving the pharmacy to make sure that you only have what you need and that there’s nothing extra in there. If you return an item before you leave the pharmacy, the medicines can be reused.
Reduce waste with a conversation - Let your pharmacy team know if you’ve stopped taking any of your medicines or if they’re no longer right for you. This is not a problem, and in fact, means your team will be able to improve your healthcare.