Simon Anthony Delahunty · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 24 Mar 2020•North London

Published report and response evidence

This report’s concerns and statements found in recipients’ published responses. Statements are included even where no link to an individual concern is recorded. A link shows an evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

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Concerns
1

Raised in this report

Recipients
1

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 1 recipient

Stated actions
1

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised1

  1. Lack of arrangements or guidance for the collection or disposal of unused end-of-life prescription medication
    Part of recurring concern: Unsafe disposal of medication

Stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.1

  1. Department of Health and Social Care

    Conduct a review of NHS overprescribing covering digital technology, research, culture, repeat prescribing and transfer of care.

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.1

  1. Department of Health and Social Care

    Existing pharmacy return, secure storage, collection, and disposal arrangements provide a safe method for disposing of unwanted medicines.

    Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Lack of arrangements or guidance for the collection or disposal of unused end-of-life prescription medication

Wider context from the report

“There are no arrangements or guidance concerning the collection or disposal of unused end of life prescription medication. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Unsafe disposal of medication.

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Conduct a review of NHS overprescribing covering digital technology, research, culture, repeat prescribing and transfer of care.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In addition, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, has asked Dr ████████, the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for England, to carry out a review of over-prescribing in the NHS. This work is looking at reducing inappropriate prescribing, with a particular focus on the role of digital technologies; research; culture change and social prescribing; repeat prescribing; and transfer of care. The report of the review will provide recommendations to reduce overprescribing to improve patient safety and reduce medicines wastage.”

Source location

2020-0077-Response-from-Dept-of-Health-and-Social-Care_Redacted
Page 2 · response
Published 9 April 2020

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Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Existing pharmacy return, secure storage, collection, and disposal arrangements provide a safe method for disposing of unwanted medicines.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Disposal of unwanted medicines is an essential service of the NHS Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework¹, to be provided by all community pharmacies in England. This requires them to accept unwanted medicines from private households, residential care homes and children’s homes. These returned medicines are then stored securely and safely by pharmacies until they are collected for safe disposal.”

Source location

2020-0077-Response-from-Dept-of-Health-and-Social-Care_Redacted
Page 1 · response
Published 9 April 2020

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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026