Patients are being asked to only order medicines that they really need and to review repeat prescriptions.

The Manx Independent contacted the Department of Health and Social Care about the issue after a GP practice highlighted the number of return and uncollected prescriptions.

Ramsey Group Practice said that 425 prescriptions went uncollected from May to October last year and were subsequently returned.

It said: ’Sadly, some of these had been made up by the pharmacist and that in turn has led to a waste of medications and a huge cost to our NHS. We all know the prescription charge is £3.85 per item, but the cost to the NHS is a lot.

’We really must protect and respect our NHS. We know we can all order our medications early "just in case" and we know it is very frustrating when the pharmacies can’t get your medication, but please can we all be really mindful when re-ordering your medications.’

The DHSC has made attempts in the past few years to recoup costs for prescriptions. Currently about 90% of all prescriptions are handed out without any charge as people claim one of a number of exemptions.

In 2018, the department told Isle of Man Newspapers that it would be cracking down on prescription cheats with Minister David Ashford saying: ’The DHSC will be strengthening its procedures in this area. It is currently in legislation that pharmacy contractors must request proof of exemption.’

However, in December 2019, it was revealed that a snapshot audit, carried out at the request of Treasury on a random sample of prescription forms, showed that in a number of cases, patients have claimed a free prescription when there is no supporting evidence they are exempt from charges.

The department also said it was writing to those identified in the audit as potentially claiming free prescriptions wrongly, to ask them to clarify their exemption.

Further audits on samples of prescriptions are planned on a quarterly basis to deter fraudulent claims and to ensure taxpayer money is spent on providing frontline health services.

A DHSC spokesman told the Manx Independent: ’If a "repeat" order is collected from the pharmacy and there are items which are not required in the bag, patients are requested to give them back to the pharmacy. The minute a patient leaves the pharmacy the medicine will not be accepted back even if not used.

’Handing back the medicine to the pharmacist before leaving means that it must be returned into stock.’

Patients are also advised to use Patient Access, an online portal which allows people to order their own repeat prescriptions. The department hopes that this ensures the patient only orders what they really need.

The prescription still goes to the pharmacy for the patient to collect at their convenience.