One of our GP trainees has recently given a presentation on the environmental impact of liquid prescriptions. During an audit she found that at least 4L of medication was wasted (not used) in 145 children who had had antibiotics in the last 4 months.
This wastage and the use of plastic bottles/plastic syringes for liquid prescriptions has a big impact on the environment if multiplied across the country/world. As a whole, the NHS is responsible for 5% of carbon emissions in England.
To help to play our part in reducing carbon emissions we are encouraging parents and children to try to start taking medication in pill and capsule form at a younger age, from as young as 4 years old.
The Great North Hospital has created a user friendly KidzMed web page (Click here to view) to help parents to teach their children how to take prescription medication in pill and capsule form. There are several benefits:
- It will help the environment.
- Many medications are cheaper in pill/capsule form.
- Some medications are not available in liquid form at all which can make prescribing difficult if the patient is unable to swallow a pill/capsule.
We hope you find this information helpful.