The amount of wasted medicines thrown away in England in one year could fill 75 swimming pools, according to a pharmacy group. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) estimated that 3,400 tonnes of partly used medicines were disposed of in England in 2024-25. The organisation, which analysed data from regional health bodies, also estimated that the problem costs the NHS at least £480m annually. An NHS England spokesperson said it had taken action to ensure people could better manage their prescriptions on their mobile phones through the NHS app, including repeat prescriptions. In June, health leaders warned that Britons were facing some of the “most severe” shortages of NHS medicines on record, including common painkillers, epilepsy drugs and HRT.