Help the NHS and the planet

Did you know that medicines account for 48% of the carbon footprint of healthcare in the community? A staggering £300 million pounds of medication is estimated to be wasted every year. Here are some ways you can help reduce wastage, save money and save carbon:

When ordering repeat prescriptions only tick the medicines you need. Medicines you don’t tick will still be on the form next time for you to order them. If someone else is ordering medication on your behalf, such as your pharmacist, please ask them not to order medication every month that you only take when you need it (such as painkillers, for example); tell them that you will ask for it when you are running out.

Don’t reorder medicines unless you have less than two weeks supply left. If you need to order early for a holiday please add an explanatory note. Never order medicines you no longer use or need. Always finish your current containers before opening new ones.

Discuss with your GP if you are using a medicine less frequently than prescribed, if you don’t believe a medicine is helping or if you wish to stop taking a medicine. Your GP will work with you to find the best solution. This will help to reduce wastage and unsafe stockpiling.

Never flush medicines down the toilet. This goes straight into the water supply and is very damaging to wildlife. All medicines and empty inhalers should be returned to your pharmacist for safe disposal. Empty blister packs can be recycled at many Superdrug stores.