We’re all guilty of stockpiling medicines we no longer need in the bathroom cabinet.

But we could be putting our own health at risk - as well as potentially costing the taxpayer thousands by ordering prescription medication we don’t use.

Launching the campaign at the Lloyds pharmacy in the Shoprite shop on Victoria Road, Douglas, Health and Social Care Minister Kate Beecroft said: ’Last year in the Isle of Man, excluding Noble’s Hospital, 1.6m prescription medications were funded by the health service at a cost of over £16m - a very significant sum of money which we want to ensure is spent wisely and only on what is needed.

’We estimate that as much as £300,000 a year of this is wasted, money that could be used to fund other vital health and social care services.’

Maria Bell, pharmaceutical adviser at the DHSC, said: ’We want to educate our community about wasted medicines and about the risk of that to health. This is not just about the money.

’We are all guilty. Medicines in your cupboard might be out of date and that’s dangerous. Bring them back to the pharmacist for proper disposal free of charge.

’This not the department trying to restrict what medicines are given out - if you are entitled you will always get them. But if you are on a repeat prescription, don’t automatically tick everything if you don’t need it. There is the misconception that if you don’t tick it, it will disappear and that’s not true.’

Joe McQuaid, superintendent pharmacist for Lloyds, said: ’With the convenience of repeat prescriptions, it’s easy for a person’s supply of medication to quickly build up.

’Over-ordering and stockpiling increases the risk of medicines expiring before they are used which means people can end up taking medicine which is no longer effective. By ordering what you need and monitoring your medication at home, the risk is reduced.’

The public are being urged to check what medicines they still have at home before re-ordering - and if you don’t need it, don’t order it.

Don’t tick all the boxes on your repeat prescription form. If you don’t reorder a particular item it will still remain on the list for you to re-order in the future.

Discuss your medication with your GP or pharmacist on a regular basis so that items you no longer need can be removed from your repeat prescription.

Avoid stockpiling medication and always keep them in a safe place away from children and pets.

Always check the expiry date.

Remember that your medicines are prescribed only for you - it’s not safe to share them with anyone else. Return any medication you no longer require to the pharmacy for safe disposal free of charge.