A campaign is being launched in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan to encourage people to help the health service reduce the amount of wasted medicine in the region.
It is thought that, if successful, the new campaign could help local health authorities save in excess of £2 million; which could be put to better use. Currently, this wastage costs local health authorities £2.8 million and could easily be prevented if patients were to commit to returning unwanted medicine to pharmacies or by only ordering what they need.
The Medical Director at the University Health Board for Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, Dr Graham Shortland, recently spoke about the campaign to cut down on the wastage of medicines, saying:
“Last year the health board dispensed more than nine million items but we estimate that around £2.8 million of that was wasted for a variety of reasons. That money could provide 110 extra nurses or 2,914 more cataract operations. Previous efforts have been made to tackle this problem but this campaign represents a step change in our approach and we are asking patients, pharmacies and other medical staff to play their part.”
The awareness campaign will run throughout the local community in pharmacies and doctors’ surgeries where Posters and leaflets will be displayed once these have been created using digital printing. Cardiff residents will also see the campaign extending to advertising on local buses, encouraging people to reduce the amount of medicines that they waste.
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