I refer to your request under the Freedom of Information Act, which I received on 9 September 2023 for information about the following:

‘I wish to request number of wasted prescriptions per year and cost to NHS and taxpayer over the last 5 years.'

[On 12 September 2023 you clarified your request as follows]

'I mean as in prescriptions no longer that can be used such as wrongly prescribed drugs that have to then be chucked as soon as leave the pharmacy.’

Response

I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHS Business Services Authority.

We hold data on prescriptions which have been submitted for payment by the pharmacy contractor, therefore cannot comment on those which may have not been used.