Vocal Voices

The local news has shown what is described as a medicines amnesty in Harrogate. In just one surgery the collection received a staggering £2.3m of unused prescription drugs. Imagine how much the cash strapped NHS would save if that was an rough average throughout the country.

Surgeries are also doing more regular medicine reviews thus saving even more money.

I freely put my hand up and admit to having not taken all my drugs all the time. I broke that bad habit by setting alarms on my mobile using the most raucous tones available. I also discus my drugs use with the doctor when I have my annual MOT. Some have been changed for generic types and others have been cut out altogether.

If these things went nationwide the NHS would be rolling in money.

Some have been changed for generic types and others have been cut out altogether.

Yes, as a general principle, but …..

My doctor cut down on my pills, saying one drug was "unnecessary". I have always harboured a suspicion that cost-reduction was an ulterior motive.

The result was that from being a diabetic well under control, my blood/sugar level spiralled upwards. It has taken me a year of being tested and nagging the quack to get them to reinstate the drug. And I'm now under control again.

So we do need to be careful about these cost-cutting measures. Just sayin' ….