Health professionals across Dorset are encouraging patients to check their medication before ordering repeat prescriptions, as part of a renewed drive to cut down on waste.
The ‘Only Order What You Need’ campaign is now in its second year. It highlights that around 1.6 million prescription items are wasted unnecessarily each year in Dorset, where around 50,000 people receive repeat prescriptions for multiple medications each month.
NHS Dorset says repeat prescriptions cost the county’s NHS around £10 million every month. Reducing waste can help ease pressure on supply chains and ensure medication reaches those who need it most.
Peter Cope, Head of Medicines Optimisation at NHS Dorset and a former community pharmacist, is supporting the campaign. He said small actions like checking what’s already at home before reordering can have a significant impact. He also thanked residents already taking these steps for helping to safeguard NHS resources.
The campaign asks people to:
* Check their current medicines before requesting more
* Only order what they actually need, even if it appears on their repeat list
* Speak to their pharmacy team if they are unsure or need help
Any unused or expired medicines can be returned to local pharmacies for safe disposal.
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