i have had replies from my local MP and from the office of the Health Secretary. Both totally miss the point. When I first started this petition I naively thought that with sufficient public backing I could persuade the Health Secretary to liaise with the relevant advisers in the NHS to launch a fresh public campaign all across the country to inform people about the scale and nature of waste in the NHS, what they could do to reduce this waste and what the savings could provide.  In fact these preliminary replies simply acknowledge that waste is a serious issue and that various initiatives are in place to tackle it, but that it is the responsibility of each local CCG to deal with the matter. No mention of a simple, inexpensive campaign to involve the public to participate in safeguarding what is probably the most important institution for each and everyone of us. I shall be writing to them again very shortly but nothing is likely to happen now till after the election.

in the meantime I am continuing to campaign for support and asking everyone to at least spread the message and have conversations about what can be done to reduce waste. The issue of recycling is tricky but certainly items like mobility equipment can be sterilised and reused. Also items like unopened dressings can be donated to animal rescue centres and syringes to needle exchange centres. The issue of medicines for overseas aid is controversial but I am informed that privately there are some supplies being sent abroad anyway, rather than being destroyed. I am also asking for a review of the policy of destroying medicines dispensed in error that have been out of the Pharmacy for less than 24 hours - sometimes just one step outside the premises. Reduction of waste can benefit the NHS and other organisations. Savings may be modest in the grand scheme of things but every little helps.

i wish you all the best of Health.