About the Project

Care home residents often rely on multiple prescriptions, but unused medicines, whether due to changes, discontinuation, or non-adherence, result in significant waste. Across the UK, care homes dispose of £50 million worth of NHS medicines annually. If Scotland follows a similar pattern, this equates to £17,000 in daily waste.

We are working to address this issue by exploring innovative, design-led ways to reduce medication waste in care homes. To understand why residents may not take their medicines, such as side effects or a dislike of pills, we are speaking with residents, their families, and care home staff. By mapping the prescription system in urban and rural settings, we are identifying areas where changes can make a real difference.

We are also considering practical solutions. Are packaging sizes too large for short-term use? Are prescriptions repeated more often than necessary? By addressing these issues, we aim to improve adherence to prescribed medicines, which could reduce GP visits, emergency calls, and hospital admissions.

Reducing medication waste benefits everyone. It saves costs, lowers pharmaceutical pollution, and reduces carbon emissions, while supporting NHS Scotland to create a more sustainable and effective healthcare system.