Pembrokeshire health chiefs have launched a campaign to drastically cut the amount of medicines that are wasted in the county. Around £600,000 worth of medicines is returned to pharmacists in Pembrokeshire each year by patients who no longer need them. Now, Pembrokeshire Local Health Board hopes to cut this amount by 80 per cent over the next two years by targeting doctors and raising public awareness. Pembrokeshire Local Health Board chairman, Chris Martin, said: "The amount of money that is currently wasted could pay for an extra 95 heart by-pass operations or 150 hip replacements. "More than three tonnes of medicine is put in the bin each and every year. It is money that is simply being thrown away and the health board has a duty to tackle this issue." In 2003, more than £18 million was spent on medicines in Pembrokeshire - equivalent to £150 for every person in the county. But the amount of medicines returned in Pembrokeshire is 63 per cent higher than in the neighbouring counties of Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion. Assistant pharmaceutical and prescribing manager, Don Wilkes, said much of the problem was created by poor repeat prescribing methods and patients hoarding medicines at home. He said: "We want doctors to review their repeat prescribing procedures to make sure they are not giving patients drugs they no longer need and we also want patients to receive a regular medication review from a health professional." He added: "We also want to raise public awareness so that patients do not automatically order all the medicines on their repeat prescription list regardless of whether they have run out of them or not. "Patients should always check the medicines they have at home, only order what they need and tell their surgery if they no longer need a medicine on their list." The Local Health Board is publishing leaflets, which will be available from doctor's surgeries and community pharmacies around the county to raise public awareness, and plans to liaise closely with doctors. Further information is available from Pembrokeshire Local Health Board on 01437 771220.
