“Islanders have an extremely important role to play in reducing medicine wastage and combating any potential shortages by ensuring they don’t automatically re-order any prescription items or decide to stockpile," she said.

"Medicines are wasted when they are prescribed and supplied and then not taken or used by the patients – it helps no one. If you have your prescription in your possession, cross off any unwanted item by putting a line through it on the prescription form. If your prescription is at the pharmacy, ask the pharmacy staff to do so on your behalf."

HSC is asking that people check their prescriptions before ordering them, and when picking them up, to check the bag to see what it contains. If you see it contains a medicine you already have enough of, Mrs O'Riordan is urging people to tell the pharmacy so they can remove it. Once a medicine has left the pharmacy it is too late to be dispensed to anyone else. 

“You don’t have to order your medicine every month if you already have enough, it’s fine to skip a few months and then ask for it to be dispensed again. If you have stopped taking a medicine it is very important to tell your doctor.

"If you use eye drops, inhalers, insulin, creams or medicines that you use ‘when required’ please take particular care not to request more than you need.

“Everyone has a role to play in reducing the likelihood of medicine shortages and if everyone takes this action we can better safeguard the health of our community and would be another shining example of the Guernsey Together spirit which has served us so well this year.”