on the button issue 24 | Page 4

Community Duck Race This year’s Duck Race was held on Sunday 29th of June and again as last year a big turnout saw the ‘Ducks’ racing from the start in the river along the side of Glebe Meadow to the weir under the flyover by Henlow Bridge Lakes. The weather was a little cloudy to start with and did try to rain for a while but it was great weather for ducks – well plastic ones anyway, and with the river having been cleaned-out especially for the day, the racing was swift! It wasn’t long before the winners emerged from under the old Medieval Bridge and headed for the finish. The first to arrive in the net was number 398 – Sponsored by Ann Smith. Second was Duck 396 – Sponsored by Sadie Dalgarno, and third place number 224 – Sponsored by Chris Livermore. It was a good afternoons fun. Well done to all. . . . and the winner is! Drugs Wastage Wasted medicines are a huge problem for the NHS. Many patients with long term chronic conditions have repeat prescriptions with up to ten different items on them. Understandably some patients, when they are feeling far from their best, simply ask for a repeat of their full prescription when they know they are running low on some particular medication. This often means that several items are unnecessarily ordered and are not used. These are then frequently wasted • Institute of Chimney Sweeps Registered as by the time they may be needed they have passed their expiry date. • Fully insured Larksfield practice has been talking to the Patient Participation Group (PPG) about this issue. Our GPs want their patients to be as well as possible and Gordon West this often means prescribing a variety of drugs, particulary for those with long 92 High Street, Arlesey, Beds term conditions. It is therefore important to order the correct items especially on repeat prescriptions. If you inadvertently order medication that you do not t: 01462 834600 m: 07504 825626 need, please give it back when you are collecting your medication and before you leave the pharmacy. Even unopened medicines that have left the premises cannot be reused. ArleseyChimneySweep.indd 1 5/12/12 Medicines wastage is also cause by people not taking their drugs as they should. Firstly this is a massive cost to the NHS and taxpayers, but more importantly, are the health implications for patients not taking medications Trading since 1987 we carry out all types of roofing. as prescribed. This is of great concern as it leads to a large number of Trading Standards Approved, Confederation of Roofing Contractors emergency admissions. and Local Authority Approved Wasted medicines cost the NHS £300m every year. By reducing the amount of medicines being wasted each year, we could increase the available funding for other desperately needed health services. If you have any questions regarding your prescribed medicines, do ask your GP, he or she will be very happy to explain the purpose and dose frequency to you. Your GP wants you to gain full benefit. If you do have unwanted medicines 19 Glebe Avenue, Arlesey, they can be taken back to any pharmacy or dispensing practice, such as Office: 01462 732786 Bedfordshire. SG15 6UP Larksfield, for safe disposal. email: [email protected] Mobile: 07977 290148 Larksfield Surgery Patient Participation Group www.deanroofing.co.uk 4 | August 2014 | to advertise telephone: 01462 834265 or go to the website: www.onthebuttonarlesey.co.uk 22:47:53