Think Twice, Order Right
New ‘Think Twice, Order Right’ campaign launched to reduce medicines waste and protect patient safety
NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin has today launched a new campaign — ‘Think Twice, Order Right’ — to help reduce the estimated £2.6 million worth of medicines wasted unnecessarily across the area every year. Almost 40% of this waste could be avoided – and everyone can play a part in changing that.
The campaign urges people to check what medicines they already have at home before ordering their repeat prescriptions, and to only request what they genuinely need. Ordering unnecessary medicines can contribute to shortages, create avoidable risks at home, and harm the environment.
The campaign asks people to:
- Check first: Before ordering medicines check the amount you have and whether it is in date. Only reorder medications when you have around 7 to 10 days left. Only request the medicines you need.
- Think safety: Unused medicines can negatively impact the environment if thrown away. Return any unused or expired medicines to local pharmacies for safe disposal.
- Double-check at the pharmacy: Before leaving the pharmacy premises (building), check your bag and hand back any unwanted medicines for reuse.
By ‘Thinking Twice and Ordering Right’, patients will be helping to protect NHS resources, keep medicines available for those who need them, and prevent unnecessary environmental harm.
If you are unsure what to do, speak to your Pharmacy Team.
Find out more about our medicines waste campaign, ‘Think Twice, Order Right’, at: www.ThinkTwiceOrderRight.co.uk