Pembrokeshire Local Health Board has been leading the way in a national campaign aimed at reducing the amount of medicines that are wasted in Wales. The county's efforts to reduce the £600,000 bill for medicines returned to pharmacists in Pembrokeshire were highlighted at a top-level meeting at the Welsh Assembly. Assistant pharmaceutical and prescribing manager, Don Wilkes, spoke about the urgent need to tackle the growing problem of waste medicines, which is costing the NHS millions of pounds every year. In Pembrokeshire, more than three tonnes of medicine is returned to community pharmacies each and every year. The amount of money wasted could pay for an extra 150 hip replacements. Mr. Wilkes said: "I outlined the amount of money that the NHS could save by taking a few simple steps to ensure that proper repeat prescribing methods are in place. "If doctors ensure they are not giving patients drugs they no longer need and patients are given a regular medication review, thousands of pounds could be saved. That money can then be used to pay for much-needed operations. "I also highlighted the need for the public to act responsibly by only ordering those medicines on a repeat prescription list that they have run out of. This week should not be seen as an isolated opportunity for action, but as a springboard for the continuing development of the partnership between patients and health professionals." Mr. Wilkes spoke at a launch of Ask About Medicines Week attended by Jane Hutt, Health and Social Services Minister for Wales.
