Unused medicines costing local NHS more than £1 million a year

Hastings and Rother Primary Care Trust (PCT) said the money could pay for more than 100 heart bypass operations or more than 1,000 cataract replacements.

Recently, a large bag full was returned to a pharmacy in Hastings containing drugs which cost the NHS more than 6,500 and will now have to be sent for safe destruction.

Medicines cannot be re-used even if they are returned with the seals unbroken because they may have been damaged by not being stored at the right temperature in people's homes, or be contaminated in some other way.

Once brought back, the NHS has to pay a specialised company to dispose of them safely and this means less money is available to spend on things that patients actually need.

Graham Delves, medicines management lead for Hastings and Rother PCT, said: "Once patients know about this waste I am sure they'll help. One thing they can do is to only tick the items on repeat prescription requests that they need, not tick them all because it's easier.

"Ticking everything on the repeat slip can lead to hoards of medicines growing in people's homes and if that happens there is more chance they won't be used.

"The message to patients is, if an item isn't needed; please don't tick the box on the prescription request.

"You can talk to your pharmacist who will review your use of medicines and advise on ordering repeat prescriptions. This will help you gain maximum benefit from your medicines and help us avoid waste."

In addition, patients should get the medication they take reviewed and checked by their GP at least once a year so any items which are no longer needed can be stopped.