UK interventions to control medicines wastage: A critical review

International Journal of Pharmacy Practice

Volumn 18, Issue 3, 2010, Pages 131-140

  White, Katherine Gwenda ^a  

^a Addison's Disease Self Help Group   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

28 day prescribing; Medicines reuse; Medicines wastage; Prescription waste; Repeat prescribing

Indexed keywords

ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID; ANTIULCER AGENT; BENDROFLUMETHIAZIDE; BRONCHODILATING AGENT; COCODAMOL; CORTICOSTEROID DERIVATIVE; GENERIC DRUG; HYDROCORTISONE; LEVOTHYROXINE; PARACETAMOL; SULFONYLUREA DERIVATIVE;

ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY; ASTHMA; COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS; COST CONTROL; COST EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS; DIABETES MELLITUS; DRUG COST; DRUG LEGISLATION; GOVERNMENT REGULATION; HEALTH CARE COST; HEALTH CARE POLICY; HEALTH PROMOTION; HOSPITAL CHARGE; HOSPITAL PHARMACY; HUMAN; HYPERTENSION; HYPOTHYROIDISM; MEDICAL AUDIT; MEDICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM; NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE; ONLINE SYSTEM; PRESCRIPTION; PRIORITY JOURNAL; REVIEW; UNITED KINGDOM;

COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS; DRUG COSTS; DRUG PRESCRIPTIONS; DRUG UTILIZATION REVIEW; DRUGS, GENERIC; GREAT BRITAIN; HUMANS; MEDICAL AUDIT; NATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAMS; PATIENT EDUCATION AS TOPIC; PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS;

EID: 77952534583     PISSN: 09617671     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1211/ijpp.18.03.0002     Document Type: Review

References (78)

1. NHS Tayside. Annual Report of the Director of Public Health 2000/01, Chapter 5, Promoting Public Health Through Evidence-Based Pharmaceutical Interventions. 2001. http://www.thpc.scot.nhs.uk/Publications/Annual%20Report01/ chapter5.htm (accessed 2 October 2009).
2. Secretary of State for Health. Pharmacy in England: Building on Strengths - Delivering the Future. 2008.
3. Department of Health. Management of Medicines: A Resource to Support Implementation of the Wider Aspects of Medicines Management for the National Service Frameworks for Diabetes, Renal Services and Long-Term Conditions. 2004. http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/08/87/55/04088755.pdf (accessed 4 March 2010).
4. NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care. Prescription Cost Analysis England 2008. 2009. http://www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/publications/ PCA%202008/PCA%202008v2.pdf (accessed 4 March 2010).
5. Welsh Assembly Government National Statistics. Prescriptions Dispensed in the Community, 2000 to 2008 and Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) Data. 2009. http://wales.gov.uk/topics/statistics/headlines/health2009/hdw20090325/?lang=en (accessed 6 March 2010).
6. ISD Scotland NHS National Services Scotland. Prescription Cost Analysis for Scotland March 2009. 2009. http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/information-and- statistics.jsp?pContentID=2241&p-applic=CCC&p-service=Content.show& (accessed 6 March 2010).
7. Department of Health. Five Minute Guide to Reducing Medicines Waste in Primary Care. National Prescribing Centre. Undated. http://www.npci.org.uk/ medicines-management/service/waste/library/5mg-waste1.php (accessed 2 October 2009).
8. NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care. Prescriptions Dispensed in the Community, Statistics for 1997 to 2007: England. 2008. http://www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/publications/PCA%20publication/ Final%20version%20210708.pdf (accessed 4 March 2010).
9. Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee. Medicines Wastage and 28 Day Prescribing. 2007. http://www.psnc.org.uk/publications-download.php/108/ Medicines20wastage20and202820day20presribing.pdf (accessed 4 March 2010).
10. Council approves use of patient-returned and date-expired medicines in the event of pandemic flu. Pharm J 2008 281 : 455.
11. Splete H. Pandemic highlights need for 2-month hydrocortisone supply. TheLancet.com 11 August 2009. http://www.thelancet.com/H1N1-flu/egmn/0c03ae4e (accessed 4 March 2010).
12. Mitchell A et al. Trends in thyroid hormone prescribing and consumption in the UK. BMC Public Health 2009 9 : 132.
13. Mitchell A et al. UK trends in prescribing thyroid hormone and patient satisfaction survey, Endocrine Abstracts 2009 19 : P345. http://www.endocrine- abstracts.org/ea/0019/ea0019p345.htm (accessed 4 March 2010).
14. McCaig D et al. Reclassification of omeprazole: a survey of community pharmacists' early experiences and views. Int J Pharm Pract 2008 16 : 23 28. (Pubitemid 351211848)
15. Moberly T. PCTs apply 28-day prescribing policy without patient impact assessment. 2008. http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/934658/PCTs-apply-28- day-prescribing-policy-without-patient-impact-assessment/ (accessed 2 October 2009).
16. Hamley J. Medicines Waste Collaborative Progress Report April 2005. NHS Tayside, Report 30/05, Divisional Primary Care Committee. 2005. http://www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk/about-nhstay/commitees/archive/07-dpcc/ 03052005/43455.pdf (accessed 4 March 2010).
17. Department of Health Policy Research Programme. Research Brief: Investigation of the Scale, Costs and Causes of Waste Medicine. https://www.nihr-ccf.org.uk/site/docdatabase/prp/prp-wm-docs/PRP Waste Medicine - Research Brief.doc (accessed 13 January 2010).
18. National Prescribing Centre. GP Prescribing Support. National Prescribing Centre in conjunction with NHS Executive. 1998. http://www.npc.co.uk/npc- publications/resources/gp-prescribing-support.pdf (accessed 4 March 2010).
19. Coma A et al. Returned medicines in community pharmacies of Barcelona, Spain. Pharm World Sci 2008 30 : 272 277.
20. NHS Bradford and Airedale. Think Safe... Save Waste - Only Order What You Need. 2006. http://www.bradfordairedale-pct.nhs.uk/Media+Centre/Press+releases/ 2006+pre-PCT/Older+News/Think+Safe+Save+Waste.htm (accessed 2 October 2009).
21. Mackridge AJ et al. Returned medicines: waste or a wasted opportunity?. J Public Health 2007 29 : 258 262.
22. Coventry Teaching Primary Care Trust. Prescribing Waste. 2007. http://www.coventrypct.nhs.uk/documents/general/2007121152449-prescribing-waste. pdf (accessed 4 March 2010).
23. NHS Leicester City. NHS Leicester City Launches Major Campaign to Reduce Medicine Wastage. News release. 2009. http://www.leicestercitypct.nhs.uk/ MedicineWasteCampaign2120209-pdf.cmsdoc (accessed 4 March 2010).
24. BBC News Channel. Wasted Drugs Cost NHS Millions. 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/8008863.stm (accessed 2 October 2009).
25. Oxfordshire PCT. Prescribing Points, vol. 16.13. 2007. http://www.oxfordshire.nhs.uk/documents/vol16. 13medicinesmanagementupdateforpractices.pdf (accessed 4 March 2010).
26. Oxfordshire PCT. Clinical Executive Briefing, issue 15. 2008. http://www.oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk/about-us/how-the-pct-works/documents/ clinicalexecutivebriefingissuejuly08.pdf (accessed 4 March 2010).
27. National Audit Office. Prescribing Costs in Primary Care, report by the Comptroller and Auditor General. HC 454 session 2006-2007. 2007. http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/0607/prescribing-costs-in-primary-c.aspx (accessed 4 March 2010).
28. Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee. Essential Services Funding Guidance. 2009. http://www.psnc.org.uk/pages/essential-services-funding.html (accessed 2 October 2009).
29. Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee. Income Tables October 2008. http://www.psnc.org.uk/data/files/funding-and-drug-tariff/NHS-Statistics/ nhs-stats-october-08.pdf http://www.psnc.org.uk/data/files/funding-and-drug- tariff/contract-funding/income-tables-oct-2008.pdf (accessed 4 March 2010).
30. NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre. General Pharmaceutical Services in England and Wales 1998-99 to 2007-08. 2008. http://www.ic.nhs.uk/ webfiles/publications/pharmserv9808/ General%20Pharmaceutical%20Services%20England%20and%20Wales%202007-08.pdf (accessed 4 March 2010).
31. NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care. Rise in Total Prescription Items Dispensed in England, but Fall in their Net Ingredient Cost. 2009. http://www.ic.nhs.uk/news-and-events/press-office/press-releases/july- 2009/rise-in-total-prescription-items-dispensed-in-england-but-fall-in-their- net-ingredient-cost (accessed 4 March 2010).
32. Tennant A. Pharmacist dispensing fees rise as expected. Dispensing Doctor Association. 2009. http://www.dispensingdoctor.org/content.php?id=972 (accessed 2 October 2009).
33. Tennant A. Shop floor pharmacists show their true colours. Dispensing Doctor Association. 2008. http://www.dispensingdoctor.org/content.php?id=399 (accessed 2 October 2009).
34. Tennant A. We are cheaper and more cost effective. Dispensing Doctor Association. 2009. http://www.dispensingdoctor.org/content.php?id=1115 (accessed 2 October 2009).
35. Pomerantz J. Recycling expensive medication: why not?. MedGenMed 2004 6 : 4.
36. Niven N. Norman Niven on wasted medicine. Health Service Journal. 2008. http://www.hsj.co.uk/norman-niven-on-wasted-medicine/1912324.article (accessed 2 October 2009).
37. Langley C et al. An analysis of returned medicines in primary care. Pharm World Sci 2005 27 : 296 299. (Pubitemid 41456086)
38. Braund R et al. Identification of the reasons for medication returns. NZ Family Physician 2008 35 : 248 252.
39. James T et al. Analysis of medications returned to community pharmacies. Ann Pharmacother 2009 43 : 1631 1635.
40. North Yorkshire and York NHS. Reducing Medicines Waste. 2009. http://www.nyypct.nhs.uk/stayinghealthy/docs/PHAnnualConf-2009/ poster-A1-medwaste-new.pdf (accessed 2 October 2009).
41. McGovern EM et al. Audit of Returned Medicines to Community Pharmacy in Anniesland/Bearsden/Milingavie LHCC, Audit Findings from 2000. http://faculty.ksu.edu.sa/hisham/Documents/Community-Pharm-Project/ returned-medicines.pdf (accessed 2 October 2008)
42. also published as McGovern EM et al. Audit of returned medicines to community pharmacy. Pharm World Sci 2002 24 : A11.
43. Hamelehto S. Finnish Consumer Return of Pharmaceuticals: A Survey. Graduate Thesis, Department of Social Pharmacy, Kuopio University. 2002. http://www.mainebenzo.org/documents/SARIHAMELEHTO-THESIS-000.pdf (accessed 2 October 2009).
44. Hamley J. Medicines Waste Collaborative/Initiative, NHS Tayside. 2005. http://www.sdhi.ac.uk/Past-Events/LandD-days/Hamley.ppt (accessed 4 March 2010).
45. Hawksworth GM et al. A detailed analysis of the day to day unwanted medicinal products returned to community pharmacies for disposal. J Soc Admin Pharm 1996 13 : 215 222. (Pubitemid 27116001)
46. Ceredigion Local Health Board. Three Counties Waste Campaign, LHB Board Meeting Enc. 12. 28 January 2009. http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/Documents/259/ Enc 12 - 1000 Lives, Medicines Waste.pdf (accessed 5 March 2010).
47. The Health and Social Care Information Centre Prescribing Support Unit. Prescriptions Dispensed in the Community, Statistics for 1998 to 2008: England. 2009. http://www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/publications/presdisp98-08/Prescriptions- Dispensed-in-the-Community-1998-2008-England-a.pdf (accessed 4 March 2010).
48. Hawksworth GM, Chrystyn H. Clinical pharmacy in primary care. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1998 46 : 415 420. (Pubitemid 28484726)
49. Hugtenburg J et al. Initial phase of chronic medication use; patients' reasons for discontinuation. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2006 61 : 352 354. (Pubitemid 43382637)
50. Millar J et al. A pilot study to investigate the use of installment dispensing as a method of reducing drug wastage owing to adverse drug reactions. Br J Gen Pract 2003 53 : 550 552. (Pubitemid 36833396)
51. Barber N et al. Patients' problems with new medication for chronic conditions. Qual Saf Health Care 2004 13 : 172 175. (Pubitemid 38797501)
52. North Nottinghamshire Prescribing Strategy Group. 28 Day Prescribing. 1999. http://www.ukmicentral.nhs.uk/guide/docs/NN-28DayPrescribing.pdf (accessed 2 October 2009).
53. BBC News Channel. Trust Makes a Start to Cut Drugs Bill. 2003, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/3056006.stm (accessed 4 March 2010).
54. Leicester City NHS. NHS Leicester City Statement on 28 Day Prescribing. http://www.leicestercitypct.nhs.uk/ MicrosoftWordNHSLeicesterCitystatementon28dayprescribing-pdf.cmsdoc (accessed 2 October 2009).
55. West Essex PCT. 28 Day Prescribing Policy. 2008. http://www.westessexpct. nhs.uk/pubs/pdfs/policy28day.pdf (accessed 2 October 2009).
56. Addison's Disease Self-Help Group. Monitoring the Impact of 28-Day Repeat Prescribing, Background Information to the Gilmore Review. 2009. http://www.addisons.org.uk/comms/media/28dayprescription.pdf (accessed 4 March 2010).
57. BBC News Channel. Short-term Prescriptions Attacked. 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7941889.stm (accessed 4 March 2010).
58. Society for Endocrinology. Patients Taking Hydrocortisone Need Longer Prescriptions in Light of the Current Flu Pandemic. Media Release. 2009. http://www.endocrinology.org/press/pressreleases/2009-08-11- Hydrocortisone%20and%20swine%20flu.pdf (accessed 4 March 2010).
59. BBC Radio 4. Case Notes 2 - Prescribing Drugs. Science Transcripts. 2004. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/casenotes-tr-20040817.shtml (accessed 2 October 2009).
60. Domino ME et al. Restricting patients' medication supply to one month: Saving or wasting money?. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2004 61 : 1375 1379.
61. Zermansky A et al. Randomised controlled trial of clinical medication review by a pharmacist of elderly patients receiving repeat prescriptions in general practice. BMJ 2001 323 : 1340.
62. Jesson J et al. Reducing medicines wastage in the community. Primary Health Care Res Dev 2005 6 : 117 124.
63. NHS Tayside. Clinical Governance: Audit Matters. September 2006, 10 (3). Cached Google filehttp://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:GTGvd2Yho1QJ:www.dundee.ac. uk/taysidehsr/images/AuditSept06. pdf+tayside+%22medicines+waste+initiative%22+medication+review&cd=3&hl= en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a (accessed 6 March 2010).
64. Holland R et al. Does pharmacist-led medication review help to reduce hospital admissions and deaths in older people? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2008 65 : 303 316. (Pubitemid 351316922)
65. Krska J, Avery AJ. Evaluation of medication reviews conducted by community pharmacists: a quantitative analysis of documented issues and recommendations. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2008 65 : 386 396. (Pubitemid 351316911)
66. Bond C et al. Repeat prescribing: a role for community pharmacists in controlling and monitoring repeat prescriptions. Br J Gen Pract 2000 50 : 271 275. (Pubitemid 30197762)
67. NHS West Midlands. Medicine Waste Campaign. http://www.medicinewaste- westmidlands.com/wmpages/wmdidyouknow.html (accessed 2 October 2009).
68. East Lancashire PCT and Blackburn with Darwen PCT. Campaign to Stop £3.5 Million Medicine Waste in East Lancashire. News release. 31 October 2007. http://www.bwdpct.nhs.uk/media-and-news/media-releases/?asset= 25559&assetdetesctl246026=25559&p=5 (accessed 5 March 2010).
69. NHS Cambridgeshire. New Campaign Launched Designed to Cut Medicine Waste in Cambridgeshire. 2009. http://www.cambridgeshirepct.nhs.uk/default.asp?id=635 (accessed 4 March 2010).
70. East and North Hertfordshire PCT. NHS In Hertfordshire Launches Campaign To Reduce Medicine Wastage. 2008. http://www.enherts-pct.nhs.uk/Content.asp?id= SX14BA-A77F7073 (accessed 4 March 2010).
71. NHS Lothian. NHS Lothian Targets Medicine Waste. 2008. http://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/news/mediaroom/news-release/ 08-06-16-wasted-medicines.asp (accessed 4 March 2010).
72. NHS West Essex. NHS in West Essex Launches Major Campaign to Reduce Medicine Wastage - Harlow and Uttlesford. 2008. http://www.westessexpct.nhs.uk/ ournews/news2008item.php?id=68 (accessed 4 March 2010).
73. Lewisham PCT. NHS in Lewisham launches major campaign to reduce medicine wastage. 2007. http://www.lewishampct.nhs.uk/?assetId=932#x0026;assetGroupId=10 (accessed 5 March 2010).
74. Wiltshire Health Authority highlights medicines waste. Pharm J 2000 264 : 426.
75. NHS Innovations South East. Guildford and Waverly PCT Reported Wastage Equivalent to 5% of its Pharmaceuticals Budget for 2002. 2009. http://www.innovations.nhs.uk/downloads/109-count.pdf (accessed 5 March 2010).
76. Leslie J. Finance Report, NHS Cambridgeshire. 2009. http://www. cambridgeshirepct.nhs.uk/documents/Board%20Meetings%20and%20Papers/2009/ March%2025/3-2-Finance-Report.pdf?preventCache=20%2F03%2F2009+16%3A07 (accessed 4 March 2010).
77. NHS Lewisham. Papers for Board Meeting to be Held in Public on 16 May 2007. http://www.lewishampct.nhs.uk/a/1353 (accessed 4 March 2010).
78. Dynamic Advertising Group. Medicines Waste Initiative. 2009. http://www.dynamicadgroup.com/userfiles/file/MedicineWaste.pdf (accessed 4 March 2010).