Patients are advised to maintain a maximum supply of one month's worth of medications at home to prevent stockpiling and mitigate shortages.

Currently, it is estimated that around £100 million worth of medicines are returned to pharmacies across the UK, while approximately £90 million worth remain unused at home.

To encourage better practices, the initiative employs social media, videos, and posters, urging patients to return unused prescriptions to pharmacies instead of discarding them or stockpiling.

An NHS spokesperson reiterated the financial burden of unused medicines, urging patients to avoid stockpiling to help alleviate medicine shortages.

Improper disposal of unused medicines can harm the environment, making it essential for patients to return them to pharmacies for safe disposal.

The NHS has launched a campaign in Suffolk and Essex aimed at reducing the estimated £300 million annual cost associated with unused medicines.

Tania Farrow, who is spearheading the initiative for NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, highlights the critical need to tackle the issue of wasted medicines.

The campaign focuses on promoting proper medicine usage and fostering collaboration among patients, GPs, pharmacists, and hospitals.

The NHS recommends that patients check their medication stock regularly and only reorder when they have about two weeks' worth remaining.

It is important to note that returned medicines cannot be reused for other patients, even if they are unopened, due to strict safety regulations.