Unused medicines refused by Boots

Was the medicine dispensed by Boots?

Boots were really bad for just filling everything on my prescription even when I had said I only needed one item .It worked in my favour though as I never ran out of HRT when there was a shortage and in fact still have one month left from then.I have far more inhalers than I'll use though just as well they have long use by dates .I changed chemist and they said it was a common complaint about Boots ,one way to make money I suppose

The issuing pharmacy is legally bound to accept them for disposal and only from the person issued or family member.

Thanks for your replies.
I have indeed returned unused, part packs of meds in the past. That is why we were surprised.

My prescriptions contain repeats, but if I don't need something that month, I just don't tick the box, so don't receive something that I am not going to use. Why would someone keep receiving meds that you are not going to use?

We will try another pharmacy next week.

Our pharmacy is at the surgery and they do take them for disposal. I took a great bagful after my OH died. I felt really bad about it; but they kept changing his drugs and there were several years' worth of rejects there.

Bouts make plenty of money out of the NHS - they were failing in their duty not to accept the drugs.

My guess is that it costs pharmacies a lot to 'dispose' of such things, and that Boots were taking a stand against something over which they have no control.

I worked with someone who unashamedly said that she kept getting more un-needed drugs just because they were on repeat prescription. I know that's not the case for all unused drugs (there can be many legitimate reasons, and I've returned some unused drugs myself simply because my condition suddenly changed), but I get the impression that it accounts for quite a lot!

Yes you’re right Calendar. Boots were wrong.

I was under the impression that pharmacies should accept half used medicines for disposal. In fact, I saw a chap returning his late mother’s stuff recently.
This was a Co Op pharmacy.

But they accept them to dispose of them safely not to re-issue them, even if they were brand new and unopened! When we returned my late MIL’s medication, some of them being morphine, had to be handed in to the pharmacist in charge who took the patient’s name and address and they were put in a separate box for disposal.

AF apologies - I just realised that it was a half used pack so you were returning it for disposal not reuse. I think Chemists have to accept unwanted meds for safe disposal. The last thing that’s wanted is for people to flush them down the loo or leave them in a cupboard. I think Boots were wrong to refuse.

Big = but

AF yes but I’m surprised Boots said that. Pharmacies should not in any circs be accepting returned meds. They lose what you might call ‘the chain of custody’. Not only could they have been adulterated in some way big much more likely they could have been stored incorrectly - too hot, too cold, damp etc. It seems like a terrible waste I know but it would be much worse if people were given meds which were ineffective.

They should go back to the surgery to be destroyed.