Mildred Johnson, Chief Pharmacist and Clinical Director of Pharmacy & Medicines Optimisation at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, recently contributed to a parliamentary session at the House of Lords.

The session, named ‘A Sustainable Health Footprint: Effective Waste Management’ brought together representatives from Parliament, NHS England, industry leaders, sustainability experts, and frontline NHS professionals. The event was chaired by Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick and convened by Policy Connect in partnership with Stericycle and the Environmental Services Association.

Drawing on recent research, Mildred presented on the issue of medicines waste in secondary care, highlighting how a different approach to medicine waste could support the NHS’s net zero ambitions. Mildred’s presentation highlighted key issues such as poor visibility of medicine expiry outside pharmacy settings and limited national data, especially in secondary care, on waste levels.

The research indicates that an estimated 0.33% of the NHS’s total medicine spend, equating to £70 million annually in hospital settings, could be avoidable waste. Offering a potential solution, Mildred called for coordinated action including improved ward-level tracking, better governance, formal waste reduction strategies co-led by NHS clinical leaders, and the use of technology like barcode tracking and automated cabinets.

Reflecting on the event, Mildred said: “It was a pleasure to attend the event and contribute to national conversations on the importance of environmental responsibility in pharmacy. Awareness of our environmental impact and taking action to reduce it is key to delivering a safe, effective, and sustainable care.”