Health and wellbeing
Keep antibiotics working – return unused medicines to pharmacies
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Walsall residents are being asked to check their medicine cabinets and return any unused or expired antibiotics to their local pharmacy as part of an amnesty for safe disposal.
The campaign runs alongside World Antimicrobial Awareness Week from 18 to 24 November and aims to tackle the issue of antimicrobial resistance.
When antibiotics are used the wrong way, like not finishing a prescribed course, or taking tablets leftover from a previous illness, bacteria can become resistant to them. This means that antibiotics stop working properly and infections become harder – or even impossible – to treat.
If resistance continues to grow, common infections could become life-threatening, routine surgeries and treatments like chemotherapy could become much riskier, and more people could get seriously ill or die from infections that were once easy to treat. Remember, antibiotics do not work against viruses such as colds or the flu, but they are important and effective for treating bacterial infections.
Even throwing antibiotics in the bin or down the sink can cause problems, as they can end up in the environment and contribute to antimicrobial resistance.
“ “Antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest threats to our health today. If antibiotics stop working, even common infections could become life-threatening and routine treatments far riskier. That’s why we’re asking everyone in Walsall to play their part. Don’t save antibiotics for later and always take them as directed by your healthcare professional, even if you feel better. In addition, don’t bring back unprescribed antibiotics from abroad.
It is important to return any unused antibiotics to your local pharmacy, continue practising good hygiene and stay up to date with your vaccinations. Together, we can keep antibiotics working for when we really need them. “
Last week, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) published a report looking at resistant infection rates and antibiotic prescribing patterns.
Data showed that around one in five, or 20.82% of, serious infections in the West Midlands region were estimated to be resistant to antibiotics – a slight increase on the previous year’s figure of 20.39%. Also concerning was the increase in consumption of antibiotics in secondary care in the region, with a rise of 8.5% from 2023 to 2024.
“ The increase in antibiotic-resistant infections in the West Midlands region shows we cannot be complacent. Antibiotic resistance remains one of the greatest health threats we face.
The increase in antibiotic use we have seen in our region needs addressing, particularly the rise of 8.5% in antibiotic consumption in secondary care from 2023 to 2024. We are working closely with healthcare partners across the region to ensure antibiotics are only used when absolutely necessary.
I urge everyone in the West Midlands region to play their part in tackling antibiotic resistance. Only take antibiotics if you have been told to do so by a healthcare professional. Do not save some for later or share them with friends and family. If you have leftover antibiotics, please bring them to a pharmacy for appropriate disposal.
It is also important to take up the vaccinations you are eligible for, to help stop infections in the first place. By working together, we can reverse this upward trend. “
To find out more about World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, please visit the World Health Organisation website.
- People are also encouraged to make a pledge to use antibiotics responsibly by becoming an Antibiotic Guardian. Find out more: Antibiotic Guardian – Pledge to be an Antibiotic Guardian.
- You can also find out more about the ESPAUR report 2024 to 2025: English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance (ESPAUR) report - GOV.UK
