??9 billion of drugs are bought every year by the NHS. No-one knows how many of these drugs are taken - maybe only half.

Today’s POA report highlights the ??300 milllion a year of drugs returned to the NHS unused. These are burned at our expense. It’s another damaging decision by the government which does nothing to??further its aims on ??for global warming, whilst hectoring the rest of us for driving cars!

This is but the tip of an iceberg. Other evidence suggest that many prescribed courses of drugs are not taken in full by patients. These pharmaceuticals are disposed of by the patients themselves.

Why is this? Doctors in the NHS always seem keen to prescribe drugs. Maybe they think that is what their patients want. Maybe patients think it is what they want when they see the Doctor. After reading the possible side effects on the packet at home, or after feeling a bit better a few days later, patients may change their minds. Many conditions are not serious and will pass after rest and the passage of time. If doctors were more willing to say that at the beginning fewer courses of drugs would be prescribed.

In hospitals much of the infection control regime seems based on taking antibiotics rather than on very high standards of cleanliness. Hospitals prescribe?? large quantities of drugs daily to their patients.

There are two main??reasons why so many drugs are wasted. The first is too many are prescribed,??including ??for conditions that would be self correcting. The second is patients are more wary of chemical drugs than doctors give credit for, so??patients decide for themselves to reduce the dose or length of time they take the drugs. It would be better if Doctor and patient could reach agreement at the time of prescription so those issued would be used.

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