Medicines waste management

Help the NHS to reduce medicines waste – ‘together we can make a difference ’

We are urging patients to carry out simple tasks to help reduce medicines waste across BOB. It is estimated that medicines waste costs the NHS nationally £300m.

Actions you can take include the following:

  • Check how much prescription medicines you have at home before ordering more.
  • Check the expiry date on your medicines; only order what you need.
  • When ordering your medication , if you don’t need it, don’t tick it.
  • Speak to a pharmacist if you need advice and support on your medicines.
  • When you collect your medicines check your bag of medication – once you leave the pharmacy, any unwanted items cannot be reused.

Store your medicines safely

Medicines should be stored in cabinets or in a secure location away from children and pets.

Dispose of medicines waste carefully

Unwanted medication should be returned to a community pharmacy for safe disposal. Often, unwanted medication ends up being disposed of incorrectly, flushed down toilets or thrown out with general waste. There is a risk medication could be ingested by wildlife, cause water contamination or be used inappropriately by other people .

The NHS App and Digital Cafés

You can manage your prescription medicines better through the NHS App. From September, if you need help and support using the NHS App you can visit a Digital Café. These are held each week across BOB and are held in various locations such as libraries and other public venues led by people who’ll improve your skills and knowledge on using the NHS App, especially around managing your medicines. Information about times and locations of Digital Cafés which are free to join can be found here

To download the NHS App visit https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/

Visit our medicines waste webpage

We have a dedicated webpage on our StayWellBOB site which provides more information, tips and advice on how to reduce medicines waste, and includes links to six short videos on the subject see here.

How can patient participation groups help reduce medicines waste?

We need your help to reduce medicines waste across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire West (BOB).

Please see a slide desk presentation on the right hand side of this page which provides further information about the campaign, and how you can help us to raise awareness among patients, and your family and friends. Some suggestions include:

  • Talking to your PPG members about the campaign messages and how you can share these wider.
  • Sharing the key messages with your family and friends to raise awareness with them.
  • Work with your GP practices to reduce medicines waste.

If you have any questions about the presentation please contact: bobicb.medicines@nhs.net

More information is available on our dedicated campaign website.

Help the NHS to reduce medicines waste – ‘together we can make a difference ’

We are urging patients to carry out simple tasks to help reduce medicines waste across BOB. It is estimated that medicines waste costs the NHS nationally £300m.

Actions you can take include the following:

  • Check how much prescription medicines you have at home before ordering more.
  • Check the expiry date on your medicines; only order what you need.
  • When ordering your medication , if you don’t need it, don’t tick it.
  • Speak to a pharmacist if you need advice and support on your medicines.
  • When you collect your medicines check your bag of medication – once you leave the pharmacy, any unwanted items cannot be reused.

Store your medicines safely

Medicines should be stored in cabinets or in a secure location away from children and pets.

Dispose of medicines waste carefully

Unwanted medication should be returned to a community pharmacy for safe disposal. Often, unwanted medication ends up being disposed of incorrectly, flushed down toilets or thrown out with general waste. There is a risk medication could be ingested by wildlife, cause water contamination or be used inappropriately by other people .

The NHS App and Digital Cafés

You can manage your prescription medicines better through the NHS App. From September, if you need help and support using the NHS App you can visit a Digital Café. These are held each week across BOB and are held in various locations such as libraries and other public venues led by people who’ll improve your skills and knowledge on using the NHS App, especially around managing your medicines. Information about times and locations of Digital Cafés which are free to join can be found here

To download the NHS App visit https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/

Visit our medicines waste webpage

We have a dedicated webpage on our StayWellBOB site which provides more information, tips and advice on how to reduce medicines waste, and includes links to six short videos on the subject see here.

How can patient participation groups help reduce medicines waste?

We need your help to reduce medicines waste across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire West (BOB).

Please see a slide desk presentation on the right hand side of this page which provides further information about the campaign, and how you can help us to raise awareness among patients, and your family and friends. Some suggestions include:

  • Talking to your PPG members about the campaign messages and how you can share these wider.
  • Sharing the key messages with your family and friends to raise awareness with them.
  • Work with your GP practices to reduce medicines waste.

If you have any questions about the presentation please contact: bobicb.medicines@nhs.net

More information is available on our dedicated campaign website.

Page published: 11 Aug 2025, 11:01 AM