The �1m could pay for 2,000 cataract operations, the trust said

A Sussex care trust is asking residents to hand back unwanted medicines and think twice before ordering repeat prescriptions.

Mid Sussex Primary Care Trust estimates that unwanted medicines are wasting about �1m a year.

It says this amount could pay for 2,000 cataract operations or 275 hip replacements.

Month-long

People are being urged to clear out their medicine cabinets and can take the drugs to pharmacies for safe disposal.

Sue Evans, the care trust's prescribing advisor, said: "Sometimes, people feel it is better to be safe than sorry and order more medicines that they actually need.

"If medicines are then changed patients can be left with items that no longer require and so the trust is encouraging them to take medicines to their local pharmacy for safe disposal.

"We would stress that medications should not be stopped or changed without speaking to their doctor first."

The "drugs amnesty" will be run throughout July.