Audra added: “Bringing medicines into hospital helps the medical staff to know exactly what medication a patient is taking at home – and assess whether all medication is being taken in the way it should be.
There are also other advantages if patients bring their medicines into hospital patients help to cut down on waste. When a patient is discharged, they should be given enough medicine but not given more than they need.
Patients can continue to take the medicine that they’re used to at home, without any breaks in the treatment. Bringing medicines into hospital also helps to speed-up a patient’s discharge.
“Money saved from medicines waste can be spent on other, high-cost services such as cancer treatments,” said Audra. “For example, if the Trust needs to re-supply an inhaler which you have at home, it can cost up to £90.
“So all in all, patients can help the NHS – and help themselves – by taking the simple step bringing their own medicine into hospital.”