When requesting your repeat prescription, please check what medication you already have at home before ordering.

Ordering only what you need helps to ensure medicines are used safely and effectively, while also reducing unnecessary waste.

Why this matters

Unused medicines cost the NHS around £300 million every year. By only ordering what you need, you can help to:

• Reduce medicine shortages
• Prevent medicines from going out of date at home
• Protect the environment
• Make best use of NHS resources

What you can do

• Check your medication before submitting a repeat prescription request
• Only request the items you need
• Let the practice know if you are no longer taking a medication
• Return unused or out-of-date medicines to your local pharmacy for safe disposal

Medication reviews

If you have questions about your medication, or if your needs have changed, you can request a medication review with the practice. This helps ensure your prescription is right for you.