Return your unwanted medicines 

South Yorkshire residents are being encouraged to return any unwanted medicines to a pharmacy.

People are also encouraged to only order the medicines they need, check their medicines bag before they leave their pharmacy and to tell their GP if they no longer want/need a medication.

These messages aim to reduce harm caused to the environment from medicines pollution as well as potential harm to pets and people at home, and to prevent medicines over-ordering and stockpiling.

If unwanted and unneeded medicines are returned whilst still in the pharmacy those medicines can be safely re-used.

Dr David Crichton, Chief Medical Officer, NHS South Yorkshire said:

 “Returning unwanted medicines to a local pharmacy is a simple and effective action that can help to protect nature and ourselves.  

“When medications get flushed down a toilet or put in bins they can get into our soil and waterways and cause harmful pollution.

“If you have unwanted medication you can return it to a pharmacy for safe disposal.

“This includes any products with medication in them, such as creams, liquids, medicine bottles, used patches and inhalers.”  

“We would ask that patients only order the medications that they need.”

Inhalers in particular, are incredibly important to dispose of correctly as they can leak greenhouse gasses long after the medication has been used.

NHS South Yorkshire urges all residents to check their medicines supply before ordering more, and to check their medicines bags before leaving the pharmacy to help protect supply chains and our environment.

For more information visit the NHS South Yorkshire Website: https://southyorkshire.icb.nhs.uk/your-health/south-yorkshire-medicine-waste

Prescribing Diazepam for Flight Anxiety

The doctors at St Vincent Practice have reviewed its prescribing of diazepam and will no longer be prescribing diazepam for fear of flying. Diazepam in the UK is a Class C/Schedule IV controlled drug. We have outlined below the reasons we will no longer be prescribing it for fear of flying. Patients are welcome to seek the opinion of a private GP if they still wish to request a prescription for this purpose. We would also advise speaking to your pharmacist about alternatives that can be bought over-the-counter.

You can find further information and useful courses in the links below.

How to manage a fear of flying and flying anxiety | Patient

https://www.fearlessflyer.easyjet.com/

https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/travel-assistance/flying-with-confidence

https://www.flyingwithoutfear.com/

Air Travel - Fit for Travel

Reasons for this policy:

1. The prescribing guidelines doctors follow (British National Formulary) advises ‘the use of benzodiazepines (diazepam) to treat short-term ‘mild’ anxiety is inappropriate’ and ‘benzodiazepines should be used to treat insomnia only when it is severe, disabling, or causing the patient extreme distress.’ Doctors would be taking a significant legal risk prescribing against these guidelines. Diazepam is only licensed short term for a crisis in generalised anxiety. Fear of flying on its own is not a generalised anxiety disorder.
2. Our contract with the NHS advises that an NHS prescription should not be provided for medication which is requested solely in anticipation of the onset of an ailment whilst outside the UK, but for which treatment is not required at the time of prescribing. It is therefore recommended that an NHS prescription is NOT PROVIDED for fear of flying.
3. Flight anxiety does not come under the remit of General Medical Services as defined in the GP contract.
4. Diazepam is a sedative and so can cause drowsiness, impair concentration and decision making. It should therefore not be taken by individuals who may be called upon to make important decisions (e.g. parents responsible for the care of young children or in case of an in-flight emergency).
5. Some countries do not allow the entry of certain types of medicines including diazepam, and others may have regulations requiring specific permission for a medication to be brought in – for further information see the NaTHNac Travel Pro Website https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/43/medicines-and-travel