HEALTH bosses have launched a campaign to cut down on wasted medicine in Evesham and the surrounding area.

The campaign launched today in GP surgeries and pharmacies across Evesham, Broadway, Bredon, Inkberrow is calling on patients only to order prescriptions they actually need, return used medication to a pharmacy for safe disposal and take medicines with them when they go into hospital.

Health chiefs from NHS South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have estimated about £1.8 million is lost every year in the region through wasted medication.

The organisation’s head of medicines commissioning Jane Freeguard said one of the biggest contributors to the figure was when patients ordered prescriptions but did not use them.

“Unwanted medicines in the home may mean that patients are not getting the benefit they could from their prescriptions,” she said.

“It also represents a large amount of waste.

“It is estimated that at any one time £90 million worth of unused prescription medicines are being retained in individual’s homes across the UK.

“Everyone involved in prescribing, dispensing or reviewing medicines has a responsibility to make sure that patients are involved in making decisions about their treatment and that they are supported to take their medicines as recommended.”

As part of the campaign health experts will be on hand at a number of events throughout the area next week, starting at Barn Close Surgery in High St, Broadway, from 9am until midday on Wednesday, October 8 and at Bredon Hill Surgery in Main Road, Bredon, from 2pm until 5pm the same day.

Events will also be held at Morrison’s in Davies Road, Evesham from 10am until 5pm on Thursday, October 9 and at the town’s Tesco in Worcester Road at the same time the following day.

For more information visit www.medicinewaste.com.