Only order what you need
Prescription medicines in Jersey are free, but they cost the public over £25 million each year. Unused medicines are estimated to cost over £500,000 per year. This money could be used to treat serious illnesses and fund other services.
Unused medicines are considered clinical waste. They are burned in a specialist incinerator. This prevents medicines entering the water system, which can happen if you flush them away. Burning clinical waste does create emissions. These are managed to reduce environmental impact.
Waste also increases costs for:
- staff time
- transport
- disposal
The best option is to only order what you need.
This guidance is inspired by NHS Dorset and their Only order what you need campaign.
Before you reorder
Around 3 in 4 prescriptions are repeat medicines.
Before you reorder:
- check what you already have
- only order what you need
Reorder when you have 7 to 10 days of medication left. Plan ahead for bank holidays or travel.
Medicines expire and may become unsafe if stored too long.
Store your medicines safely
Keep your medicines in one place so you can see what you have.
To manage your medicines:
- use one pack at a time
- avoid stockpiling
To store your medicines safely:
- keep them out of reach of children
- keep them in their original packaging with the label
- follow storage instructions (for example, you might have to store medicines in your fridge or in a cool, dry place)
Too many medicines at home can lead to:
- waste
- shortages for others
- risks to children, pets and vulnerable people
Take your medicines correctly
Take your medicines exactly as prescribed.
Your treatment may not work, and you can waste medicines if you:
- take the wrong dose
- stop taking them too early
If you’re unsure how to take your medicine, speak to your prescriber. They can review your treatment and stop medicines you don’t need.
You can also ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Check your prescription at the pharmacy
Check your prescription before you leave the pharmacy.
If you don’t need an item, tell the pharmacy team straight away.
For safety reasons, medicines cannot be reused once they leave the pharmacy.
Dispose of unwanted medicines safely
Do not keep out of date or unwanted medicines at home. They can be unsafe, especially for children and vulnerable people.
Out of date medicines may not work properly and could cause harm.
Check your medicines regularly and take any unwanted or out of date items to a pharmacy.
All pharmacies accept medicines for safe disposal.
List of registered pharmacies
You can return:
- antibiotics
- inhalers
- painkillers
- creams and ointments
- liquid medicines
- tablets and capsules
If you’re unsure of what you can return or have any questions, speak to your pharmacy.
For syringe and sharps disposal, you can find more information on used needle and syringe disposal (sharps bins).
gov.je