A campaign to reduce the annual £2 million cost to the NHS of wasted or unused medicines in Sefton each year has gained national recognition after being shortlisted for a top accolade at The Pharmacist Awards 2016.

NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG’s head of medicines management, Susanne Lynch and her team were nominated in the community innovation category of the awards for their “only order what you need” campaign.

On her nomination, Susanne said: “I am so happy to have been shortlisted for this award and I have to say I couldn’t have got this far without the help of my team who have been out and about speaking to the residents of Sefton.

“People have taken a real interest in our campaign and a lot were shocked about how much waste we see from repeat prescriptions and people over ordering so I do think it will make them think twice before ordering next time.

“As head of medicine management it is extremely important to me that the message is passed on and I can’t stress enough how important it is to only order or accept medicines that you need as unused prescriptions cost the NHS in Sefton an estimated £2million a year.”

The team went out on a ‘winter tour’ to local supermarkets and community events to tell people about the savings that could be made if people were to ‘only order what they need’. On the tour they also advised on how people should take their medicine properly so they are as effective as possible but also how to dispose of medicines should they or someone they know have medicines at home that are no longer needed.

The Pharmacist Awards hosted by Zinc Media were held on 30 June at The Millennium Gloucester Hotel, London.