WASTED medication is costing a health trust £5million a year.

Bosses at NHS North East Essex primary care trust said vital treatment could be provided with the cost of the medicine wasted in Colchester and Tendring.

The trust said the money would pay for 2,000 more hip and knee replacements, 1, 400 more essential heart operations, 330 more treatment courses for breast cancer, 300 more community nurses and 5,000 more Alzheimer’s treatment courses.

It has launched a campaign to tackle the problem.

In November and December, inserts will be put in prescription bags to remind patients not to stockpile drugs, and to have regular reviews with their GP or pharmacist.

Thousands of posters and leaflets will also be sent to GP surgeries and pharmacies.

Paul Breame, the trust’s assistant director of medicines management and pharmacy commissioning, said: “Wasted medicine means wasted money.

“It can’t be used again and if we could save some of that money, we could reinvest it in other areas of healthcare.

“There are a number of reasons why medicines are going to waste, including people no longer needing the drugs, but others may also be put at risk if unwanted drugs are left in the home.

“If anyone has any unused medicines at home we’re encouraging them to take them back to the pharmacy for safe disposal and to have a chat with the pharmacist or prescribing GP about how to use them more effectively.”