Wasted or unused medicine is a serious and growing problem within the NHS that you can help tackle.
Medicines that are requested on prescriptions but then not used are sometimes referred to as Medicines Waste. Nationally, for every £25 spent on prescription medication, £1 is wasted.
The NHS pays for every medicine it dispenses, there is no such thing as a free prescription, and if it is not needed by the patient the NHS also pays for the medicines to be disposed of.
By talking and listening to the local community, GPs, pharmacies and other healthcare professionals it’s clear how important it is that we tackle the issue of medicine waste, particularly at a time when locally and nationally the NHS system is facing major challenges to meet the demand for services within available resources.
Reducing medicines waste is important to us, but it is not something we can do alone.
We need your help to work together to stop medicines waste across the area, reduce the spend, and get more from your local NHS.
We want to raise awareness amongst the public and need to get residents in South East London to:
If your GP prescribes medication to treat a condition, it’s important to take it in exactly the way that it’s been prescribed to receive the most benefit.
If you stop taking your medication – or if you stop taking it in the way your doctor prescribed – please tell your doctor about this. They’ll help you to make an informed choice about your medication and may be able to prescribe an alternative.
Cold weather can make some health problems worse and even lead to serious complications, especially if you’re 65 or older, or if you have a long-term health condition.
NHS South East London Integrated Care Board is committed to making sure people across south east London get safe, high‑quality primary care. We can confirm the Care Quality Commission cancelled Eltham Palace Surgery’s legal authority to operate on 19 March 2026 with immediate effect. We’re working with local partners to maintain continuity of services for […]
Glass Mill Leisure Centre hosted the third Understanding Blood Pressure event in the borough of Lewisham on 11th March 2026, welcoming more than 100 residents from Lewisham and Ladywell (Neighbourhood 2) and the surrounding area. Across the afternoon, people moved between short talks with time for questions and a lively market‑style area – picking up […]
Community‑based mental health services in Lambeth are successfully supporting people through crises and reducing pressure on emergency care, addressing one of the key priorities of the 10-Year Health Plan for England. The Evening Sanctuary at Mosaic Clubhouse had 1,468 visits in 2024/25, with 839 of these visits specifically avoiding an A&E attendance. The Evening Sanctuary […]