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14.1	Return or disposal of medicines: General principles
	Medicines no longer to be administered to a patient, for whatever reason, will generally not be destroyed on the ward/department but returned to the hospital pharmacy for disposal with the exception of controlled drugs (see Section 8.9). Advice should be sought from the Clinical Pharmacist or pharmacy on appropriate disposal. Patients in their own homes, or their representatives, must be advised by community nursing staff, GPs or Pharmacists to return any unwanted/unrequired medicines to their local community pharmacy for disposal. If community staff feel it would be unsafe to leave patient’s own medicines in a patient’s home, they must arrange to have the medicines removed from the patient’s home, documenting this transaction on the patient’s record. Details must be recorded of Drug Name, Strength, Form, Quantity, Reason for Removal and Name & Address of Community Pharmacy return made to. This record must be signed and dated by the member of staff removing the medication and the receiving community pharmacist.
14.2	Return or disposal of medicines: Return of Medicines from Wards/Departments
	All out-of-date medicines and any temporary, non-stock items no longer required shall be returned to the pharmacy documented, bagged, labelled and secured with appropriate security precautions. Stock items must only be returned by prior arrangement with the pharmacy. Stock checks must be carried out at a minimum interval agreed by the Nurse in Charge and responsible Pharmacist using the stock list/order form to identify non-stock items that are no longer required and which must be returned. The Nurse in Charge shall be responsible for their return. When pharmacy staff are initiating returns then the Nurse in Charge must be aware of stock being returned. All medicines which are sent from the ward to the pharmacy must be placed in a polythene bag and locked in the “pharmacy box” for transport. Medication which cannot be taken back into pharmacy stock will be destroyed.
14.3	Return or disposal of medicines: Cytotoxic Chemotherapy
	Particular care is required for disposal of Cytotoxic chemotherapy and NHS Tayside procedures for their disposal must be followed.
14.4	Return or disposal of medicines: Temporary Ward Closure
	When the ward is to be closed temporarily (e.g. weekends) arrangements shall be made with the Pharmacist to ensure the safe and secure custody of the medicines held on the ward.