Hi Sqad

[kia cat]

My prostate treatement has finished, now recuperating @ home. My wife went to collect my latest 'scrip and was given a zoladex implant ( I was on this for 6 months, prior to external beam R/therapy + brachytherapy). We returned the impany as it wasn't needed - a mix up @ pharmacy.

I was amazed when the Pharmacist said it would be "binned" as it couldn't be re-issued? It was still sealed up (box unopened) I'd been told the implants cost about £400 a time? I understand for low cost unbranded ?BP products, but this seems a colossal waste of NHS funds. Your opinion would be appreciated, thanks.

[murraymints]

hope your recovery is swift and complete Kia ...unused meds even if still sealed can never be reissued and are always binned...wasteful indeed, although I remember someone here talking of a website that received suchlike for third world medical charities ?

[Sqad]

Hi! kia..........I have just looked back at your posts.....you had excellent "work up" particularly the MRI, which isn't usually routine in the UK and you chose a sensible from of treatment.

I agree....what a waste of money, but there is an Aber who is a pharmacist so he/she will give you the pertinent reasons.

I suppose with the NHS costing over £140billion to run, an occasional waste of £400 is neither here or there....;-)

[rosyposy]

I'm sure I read on AB about someone who had a wheelchair delivered and the patient no longer needed it but they were told to keep it or dispose of it as they couldn't take it back. (Still wrapped up too) When Mr.P goes to the NHS podiatrist they sometimes give him the nail clippers and file they use as they are 'one use only', they are stainless steel, surely they could be sterilised?

[woofgang]

Items that have left a pharmacy in the UK cannot be replaced on the shelf in case they have been tampered with or have been exposed to infection. Even if the item is still sealed inside, the packaging may have been contaminated. the rule is made absolute so as the prevent the "judgement call" situation where one pharmacist might, in all good faith make a wrong decision causing harm to a patient.
I am surprised to hear about the wheelchair as certainly here in Hampshire, wheelchairs and other aids are refurbished and reissued. There is an issue now, I believe, with the sterilisation of stainless steel instruments as it has been discovered that MRSA attaches to stainless steel and can withstand sterilisation

[jamesnan]

At our local Red Cross collection unit, all the used goods go into one door on the left, and are sterilised and brought out the main door on the right, this means that wheelchairs, chairs etc can be re used. Commode inners have to be bought and paid for separately and are non returnable.