He said it was impossible to quantify the cost of these drugs, but said it was “colossal”.

Dr Russell said tackling drug wastage had been “a significant issue” for his predecessor, the recently retired Dr Harry Leadbitter). Dr Russell made it very clear he intended to continue with the same campaigning zeal.

He said that by drug wastage he meant patients being given the wrong medicines, medicines they didn’t use and he also pointed out that 10% of the patients admitted to elderly care units in hospitals were admitted because of the side effects of drugs they were taking.

There are complex reasons why people failed to take drugs, but the fact is that many drugs are never collected from pharmacists after prescriptions are filled, they are returned still in their unopened packets. But it is also known the vast amounts returned are only “the tip of the iceberg” and many more unwanted and unused drugs languish in bathroom cabinets or are flushed down toilets.

Committee member Mrs Liz Forsyth asked if the amounts recorded as returned related only to returns to community pharmacists where there was a programme of collection and destruction. Dr Russell confirmed that was the case.

She asked whether a new group being set up by Dr Russell to spread good practice learned from elsewhere and tackled drug wastage would have a wider remit than simply the returns to community pharmacists.

Dr Russell said the group would have the wider remit – a part of that would be passing on good practice to GPs and helping patients become “expert” users of the health service, getting better care for themselves.

“As you know I am a great advocate of quality improvements and spreading good practice throughout the system,” said Dr Russell.

“Significant improve- ments have been delivered in wastage down south and that gives me confidence we can look to do the same here.”