by Gráinne Connolly
The Bogside and Brandywell Health Forum and local Councillor Patricia Logue are backing a campaign aimed at highlighting the importance of ordering only what you need on prescription, and properly disposing of unused medications.
It's following recent news that the cost associated with medication waste is now £18 million each year in Northern Ireland.
Councillor Logue said:
"In the winter period when you'll find that health budgets here are stretched to the limits with the annual pressures placed on them with an increase in illnesses.
"It is quite staggering that across the North unused prescriptions medicines cost the health service an estimated £18 million per year.
"I would encourage people to check their repeat prescriptions. If there is an item they no longer need or use that they ask their GP surgery to take it off its list."
Manager of Bogside and Brandywell Health Forum, Aileen McGuinness said this issue needs to be highlighted and that people should "clear out" all unused medication in their homes:
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