Protein drinks such a waste!

Not quite the same but following surgery for bowel cancer and the formation of a stoma I ended up with lots and lots of unusable stoma bags. I ended up putting them in the rubbish as my stoma had changed size, shape, had leaking issues. Eventually found a local drop off point for an overseas charity so that had my last unusable (for me) bags.

I gave my husband's osotmy bags and wipes away on FB marketplace because the chemists wouldn't take them and the stoma unit never got back to me, they could have been used for another patient because they were still boxed. The person just paid me postage because he wasn't local. But I tried so many times to give them back to the NHS.

jocork

We now have a collection point for crutches etc . I would use freegle or olio as these go to individuals not charities so someone will probably take them.
After my mum died the things I struggled to get rid of were tena pads - many packages of them! They came as a regular delivery and the company wouldn't take them back. I eventually gave them to a group who took back equipment such as her zimmer etc, but they said they would probably be used for mopping up spills! Again such a waste!

Gave all my mil pads to the care homes around our way 10. Pks here, 10 pks there- & hospice very much appreciated.

Dog kennels if no one else wants them I gave all of ours to a dogs charity as they build up starving dogs

Is it just me? I had radiotherapy for oral cancer in Jan/Feb. My mouth was (and still is) very changeable, swallow was affected, tastebuds a mess (still are). The hospital would only prescribe a certain number and some were vile (to me) but once I settled on a few flavours I bought my own online. It was cheaper and easier than making my own meals that I then found I couldn't eat. However, if we're in a hurry both hubby and I swig a couple down before going out to at least have some sustenance and avoid feeling light-headed. You can also use them to make milky puddings, custard etc.

In any case, radiotherapy affects metabolism and can mean the good cells do not repair as easily, so you are advised to consume about 500 calories extra every day for about a year after your treatment ends. So don't chuck them away just yet. If your DH has only just finished RT don't think the worst is necessarily over cos new symptoms can appear months after treatment has ended.

Typo. 'Back' not 'bad'

...aunty from NZ took bad meds she was given while here on hol, antibiotics & steroid.
Bless her she was 91!!! And of course has to buy them back home
We are sooo fortunate with our NHS!

It's really disheartening too, not enough dentists midwives etc

Now we have increasing population here no more hospitals schools or prisons on horizon!? Common sense
Another subject

Yes. Food banks at least. 🤔Show date clearly
...have to be nutritious especially for those without
Hate waste like this
Boots recently took back vits I was pleased with the common sense approach of all intact and unopened
What surprised me is a snoring device refunded! As been in nostrils

I also get annoyed at medication...never opened, cannot be used as it has your name on it....just disposed of! What a waste of money when it could be sent abroad to places and people that need it. I'm thinking Gaza,Ukraine,Africa etc.

I got rid of my husband’s on Trashnothing, the person was very grateful. I had much more trouble getting rid of the water he had delivered. In the end the vet surgery had it!

Yep put on Nextdoor, FB, supermarket advertising board- shame, poster on here said Gp wouldn’t prescribe these drinks to her.

I was sent home with a lot of them. A friend who does body-building snapped them up.

I always thought that the reason that unwanted medicines weren’t accepted for re use was the possibility of contamination and deterioration because the pharmacy has no way of knowing despite dates if the items have been stored appropriately.
Therefore an unacceptable risk?

I agree that this is such a waste, this is similar to unused, unopened medication. All because they are prescribed and patient specific. We do need a better system in place to stop this waste.
Have you considered offering these drinks to homeless charities or kitchens, not sure they would but it may be worth asking. In my experience sadly many homeless people have become malnourished and would greatly benefit from these nourishing drinks.

Take them to the nearest Gymnasium, if you're that bothered.

We now have a collection point for crutches etc . I would use freegle or olio as these go to individuals not charities so someone will probably take them.
After my mum died the things I struggled to get rid of were tena pads - many packages of them! They came as a regular delivery and the company wouldn't take them back. I eventually gave them to a group who took back equipment such as her zimmer etc, but they said they would probably be used for mopping up spills! Again such a waste!

Same with crutches, go on social media and moan you've sprained your ankle and a 100 people will offer you the crutches they have from hospitals, but can't be arsed to take them back. Must be costing the NHS millions

most places have a local "I need a whisk" group on facebook where people give away things rather than landfill to local people , someone will have them, eg "I need a whisk Basingstoke (replace with your town name)"

Not only protein drinks but drugs
Packets and packets of unopened drugs and dressings NHS wont take back. Think of the cost of this
Even if the prescription is issued but patient dies or has to have a change they cannot be used.

We bought these for my dad - they are not cheap. I would certainly try to put them on Freegle. I know they are available on prescription, but you don’t have to have a prescription to get them?

The issue with passing these on is for those of us who need them we get them on prescription. You might find somebody on a keep fit kick might want them for the protein value of them.

I would ask the food bank if they will take them.

It's a shameful waste, I agree with the others and try and give them to a food bank, advertise locally. I'd have snapped them up if you were close due to a brutal liquid diet I'm on after surgery, I'm sure someone will be extremely grateful for them

I did try to hand the drinks back, when our lovely nurse appeared with them, I asked if she could take them back,no! There really ought to be a better system. A friend who managed to contract c.difficile has taken a few.

I had boxes of laxido which I never needed. They are out of date now.