HEALTH experts have revealed that almost five tonnes of unwanted medicines were disposed of across East Lancashire in a single year.

The shock statistic was disclosed as East Lancashire Health Authority prepared to release the results of a high profile campaign.

In September 1997, health chiefs launched their DUMP (Dispose of Unwanted Medicines Please) campaign, when the public was urged to return unused drugs to their local pharmacy. The health authority will release the full results of its campaign at a press conference at Pendleside Hospice, Reedley, on Tuesday .

But it said today that almost five tonnes of unwanted medicines were returned to community pharmacies between November 1997 and October 1998.

It also said the value of drugs returned to 25 community pharmacies during October 1998, the period of the DUMP campaign, was £18,500. A health authority spokeswoman said: "There are 115 community pharmacies in East Lancashire and allowing for an over estimate, at even half the rate of return, this would amount to a wastage of £500,000."

When the campaign was launched, the health authority advised that unwanted medicines should be returned to pharmacies where they would be safely disposed of.

The health authority said: "Medicines are often put away in cupboards or on shelves and can stay there for months or even years.

"This not only constitutes a waste of NHS money which could be reinvested in patient care, but can also create a serious hazard in the home, especially if there are children around."

The launch of the DUMP campaign coincided with a report by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA), which said that medicines were still the greatest cause of home poisoning.

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