Every year, more than £1bn is spent on medicines in the North East and North Cumbria, with around 7.5m prescriptions issued each month.

The new strategy outlines several key areas to improve the use of medicines, including:

• Reducing unnecessary prescriptions - up to 10% of prescribed medication currently issued are not actually needed. Early results from a new ICB medicines waste campaign, which encourages patients to order only what they need from their repeat prescriptions, have already shown a slight reduction in unnecessary prescribing. This initiative has the potential to save over £20m each year, with funds being redirected into essential health services to enhance patient care.
• Reducing the long-term use of pain medication - prolonged use of pain medication (opioids) can often cause more harm. Across the region, approximately 120,000 people use opioids, with nearly 97,000 taking them for over six months.
• Overuse of antibiotics - excessive or inappropriate use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, making infections harder to treat in the future. Healthcare teams will work closely with both doctors and patients to ensure antibiotics are prescribed only when necessary.
• Reviewing antidepressant use - more than 10% of people across the region are currently taking antidepressants long-term, sometimes without regular reviews. The new strategy encourages greater use of non-medical treatments, including talking therapies and lifestyle support, alongside regular checks to make sure people get the care they need.

The plan also highlights the need to improve care for people with heart disease, diabetes, and breathing conditions, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The plan also encourages doctors, pharmacists, and hospitals to work more closely together to give better care.

ICB director of medicines, Professor Ewan Maule, said: ‘Our medicines strategy is a major step forward in our long-term plan for better health and by focusing on prevention, fair access, and safer, more effective use of medicines, we believe we can improve care for thousands of people, reduce pressure on our services, and make sure every pound spent brings the best possible benefit.

‘There's still a long way to go – but with this new strategy in place, the North East and North Cumbria is taking action to build a healthier future for everyone.'