PATIENTS in Darlington are being asked to take an active interest in their health care to improve safety around prescriptions.

A campaign is being launched to improve medications practice in the town, in which the public will be encouraged to question the health professionals who look after them.

Called "It's Your Business", the initiative was launched at a conference of health professionals.

Elizabeth Graham, Darlington Primary Care Trust's head of clinical governance, said: "We now live in a world where professionals value your questions and a lot of human error can be avoided by the vigilance of the public.

"People shouldn't be passive recipients of care and should make sure they are on the right medication."

She said the introduction of generic brands also increased the chances of confusion surrounding medications, as the packaging of different medicines often looks the same.

Mrs Graham said: "Patients shouldn't have a blind acceptance of the drugs they are given and should question their doctor, nurse or pharmacist about their medications if they are unhappy or unsure about what they are taking.

"Patients need to make sure they know what medicines they are taking, how often a day they need to be taken and what the medicines are for. "They should ask about the common side effects and what to do if they experience any adverse effects."