Help us send medicines waste packing this summer
As thousands of local people prepare to head off on holiday this summer, the NHS is asking people across Surrey and Sussex to help send medicines waste packing by checking what they already have at home before ordering repeat prescriptions.
The Only Order What You Need campaign is encouraging people to use the summer months to check what you have at home and only order repeat medicines they truly need.
Across the NHS in Surrey and Sussex, approximately £528 million is spent on medicines each year, with more than 53 million prescriptions issued. In 2025/26, it is estimated that around 5.3 million of these prescription items were unused and thrown away.
Nationally, an estimated £300 million worth of medicines is wasted each year. Once medicines have been dispensed, they cannot be taken back and reused.
Approximately 75 per cent of prescriptions dispensed are for repeat medications, and it is estimated that around 10 per cent of these medicines are not needed because people already have enough at home.
Linda Honey, Chief Pharmacist at NHS Surrey and Sussex, said:
This summer we are encouraging everyone to do a simple check at home of the medicines you have and what you may need for the months ahead.
Many people will have medicines in different places at home, and together they add up. We are also thinking about holidays and people often add medicines to their preparations when they have enough already.
A key priority for the NHS is to make sure we are spending taxpayers’ money wisely - and we want all the funding we receive for health services in Surrey and Sussex to be available for the care people need.
We are asking people to help us - to use their medicines wisely - and together ensure that our resources can be spent on ensuring high-quality care and improving access to NHS services.
Some people may believe they need to order every medicine listed on their repeat prescription. However, people do not need to order medicines they do not currently need, even if they appear on their repeat prescription list.
The NHS is encouraging people to:
- Check their medicine supplies before ordering a repeat prescription.
- Only order the medicines they currently need.
- Check expiry dates and follow storage instructions.
- Return unwanted or out-of-date medicines to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
People are reminded not to throw unwanted medicines in household waste or flush them down the sink or toilet, as this can harm the environment. Unwanted and out-of-date medicines can be returned to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
Unnecessary medicine waste can also affect patient safety, medicine supply chains, and the environment.
This summer, help us send medicines waste packing. Only order what you need.