'Wasted medicines could fill 75 swimming pools'

A body that represents pharmacies has said that wasted medicines in England could fill 75 swimming pools a year.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA), based in St Albans, urged patients to only order the medication they needed.

It warned that medicine wastage costs the NHS at least £480m a year.

Olivier Picard, chair of the NPA, said: "As soon as a medicine leaves a pharmacy, even if it is not used and is unopened, it must be disposed of so it is important patients only get [the medication] they are sure they will use."

Some patients are ordering more medication just in case it is needed later, rather than because it is necessary at the time, the NPA said.

It added that patients on complex medication regimes are more likely to return unused medicines or unopened boxes.

The Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB) previously said it was spending about £10m a year on medicines that go unused.

The NPA believed more checks for patients on several repeat prescriptions would help to reduce wastage.

"If a patient has any concerns about their medicines, they should speak to their pharmacist who can help them get the most out of their medicines," Picard said.

The BBC has contacted the NHS for a response.

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