Across Humber and North Yorkshire, a new campaign is being launched to help reduce medicine waste.

The campaign, Only Order What You Need, is primarily aimed at patients over 65 and those aged 45 and over with long-term conditions.

It highlights the cost of unused medicines to the local NHS – roughly £26 million worth are wasted across the region every year! – and encourages people to only order repeat prescriptions if they really need them.

On top of that, unused medicines can expire, become less effective or contribute to drug shortages. And once dispensed, they can’t be reused or recycled. Instead, those returned to a pharmacy must be incinerated, which has a negative environmental impact too.

To address these issues, the NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) is urging people to check their medicine supplies before reordering. You should only request items that you need and speak to your pharmacist or GP if you’re unsure.

Dr Nigel Wells, the ICB’s Executive Director of Clinical and Professional, said: “Aside from the obvious financial benefits of reducing waste, it’s better for the environment if there’s less unused medicines ending up in landfill or being incinerated. Each of us can play our part in bringing this waste down. By being more mindful about the medicines we order and use, we can look after NHS resources and help ensure they’re available for those who need them, when they need them.”

Learn more about the campaign here: letsgetbetter.co.uk/yourmeds

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