HEALTH chiefs are urging people to order their prescriptions online - in a bid to help manage medication and reduce NHS waste.
NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group, which funds NHS services in the area, says that currently a significant portion of repeat prescriptions are ordered when the patient collects the current month’s supply.
And it wants to encourage and support patients to order them online - via a mobile phone, tablet or computer - to reduce wastage and help manage their medication supply.
Governing body member Dr Mark Hodgson said: “Some examples have even shown that the items aren’t being checked properly; instead, simply ‘all medications’ are being ordered.
"Ordering processes such as this contribute to medication waste and stockpiling which costs the local NHS up to £1 million a year. This process can also result in medication errors.
“One way in which we believe this can be overcome is by encouraging patients to use the free online ordering system which links directly with their practice."
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