Using Medicines Safely Toolkit

The following communications toolkit provides resources that can be used to help raise awareness of the Know, Check, Ask World Health Organisation (WHO) campaign and the local medicines waste campaign to support World Patient Safety Day on 17 September 2022.

Please note, owing to the national mourning period following the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September, the assets and information in the toolkit have been revised. All posting and campaigns, aside from essential work, was paused until the mourning period ended at midnight on Monday 19 September.

The toolkit includes:

  • Article for websites/newsletters
  • Social media posts and images

If you require any further information or more resources, for example information in other languages, please contact the NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Comms team at cpicb.comms@nhs.net who will be happy to help.

Article for websites/newsletters

World Patient Safety Day 2022 – Know. Check, Ask.

Medicines are used to prevent or treat illness. Before you take medicines, it is important that you have all the information you need to make sure you can use your medicines safely.

Use the Know. Check. Ask Actions to support you in using your medicines safely.

  1. Know your medication.
  2. Check that you are using the right dose of your medication, at the right time.
  3. Ask your healthcare professional if you are unsure.

Top tips for using your medicines safely:

  • Remember to check and ask your pharmacist when collecting any prescription and know what’s in your bag before you leave.
  • Keep an up-to-date list of all the medications you take, including those that you buy from your local pharmacy or shop, so you can share it if needed.
  • Take your medicines as recommended on the label.  
  • Be aware of the potential side-effects of your medicines.
  • Let your healthcare professional know about any allergies you may have.
  • Store your medications as directed and check the expiry date regularly.
  • Return leftover or expired medicines to your local community pharmacy who can dispose of them safely for you.
  • Ask your healthcare professional if you have any concerns about your medicines or need further advice.

If you have any questions, please email us at cpicb.comms@nhs.net

Social media posts

A choice of images that can be used on social media are at the end of this toolkit and can be accessed from the list of assets on the right hand side of this page.

Social Media Posts

Message  

Asset  

Alt text

Twitter post 1

Following World Patient Safety Day, make sure you are using your medicines safely, by following the Know. Check. Ask actions.

https://bit.ly/3wPszq6  (LINK - Medication Without Harm - World Patient Safety Day 2022 (who.int)) #PatientSafety #WPSD2022 #ICS

Know, Check, Ask. Before you take it: know your medication - check you are taking the right dose at the right time - ask your healthcare professional if you are unsure

Image of an older man collecting a prescription. Green background to the image with the words Know, Check, Ask. Before you take it:

Know  your medication

Check you are taking– the right dose at the time

Ask your healthcare professional if you are unsure.

Twitter post 2

It was World Patient Safety Day on Saturday 17 September. Watch this 50 second video to remind yourself to follow the Know. Check. Ask actions for  any medicines you are using https://bit.ly/3wPszq6  (LINK - Medication Without Harm - World Patient Safety Day 2022 (who.int)) #PatientSafety #WPSD2022 #ICS

Know, Check Ask. Before you take it: Know your medication - Check you are taking the right dose at the right time - Ask your healthcare professional if you are unsure.

Image of an older white woman talking to a younger female pharmacist. Pink background to the image with the words Know, Check, Ask. Before you take it:

Know  your medication

Check you are taking– the right dose at the time

Ask your healthcare professional if you are unsure.

Twitter post 3:

What do the weight of six double decker buses and 106 giraffes have in common? They’re both the amount of medicines that were returned unused locally last year. Only order what you need and check your pharmacy bag before leaving the pharmacy

 

 

Image of two giraffes inside a circle on a blue background. Text says Do you know how many medicines were returned unused last year? The equivalent weight of 106 giraffes. 

Image of two giraffes inside a circle on a blue background. Text says Do you know how many medicines were returned unused last year? The equivalent weight of 106 giraffes. 

Facebook/Instagram post 1

Medicines are used to prevent or treat illness.  It is important that you have all the information you need to make sure you can use your medicines safely.

One of the main ways you can help play your part is to follow the Know. Check. Ask actions.

Know your medication, Check you are using the right dose, at the right time. Ask your healthcare professional if you are unsure. Do share with family and friends and help reduce Harm from medication.

https://bit.ly/3wPszq6  

(LINK - Medication Without Harm - World Patient Safety Day 2022 (who.int))  #PatientSafety #WPSD2022 #ICS

Image of an older man collecting a prescription. Green background to the image with the words Know, Check, Ask. Before you take it: Know - your medication Check - the dose and the time Ask - if you are unsure.

Image of an older man collecting a prescription. Green background to the image with the words Know, Check, Ask. Before you take it:

Know - your medication

Check - the dose and the time

Ask - if you are unsure.

Facebook/Instagram post 2

Sooner or later everyone needs medication.

This year’s World Patient Safety Day was all about making sure you can use your medicines without harm. Follow the Know. Check. Ask actions for any medicines you are using.

This short, 50 second video highlights some of the key steps we can all take to keep ourselves safe whilst using our medicines

Do share with family and friends. https://bit.ly/3vbzoBM (LINK - Medication Without Harm - World Patient Safety Day 2022 (who.int)) #PatientSafety #WPSD2022 #ICS

Image of an older white woman talking to a younger female pharmacist. Pink background to the image with the words Know, Check, Ask. Before you take it: Know  your medication Check you are taking– the right dose at the time Ask your healthcare professional if you are unsure.

 

Image of an older white woman talking to a younger female pharmacist. Pink background to the image with the words Know, Check, Ask. Before you take it:

Know  your medication

Check you are taking– the right dose at the time

Ask your healthcare professional if you are unsure.

Facebook instagram post 3:

What do the weight of six double decker buses and 106 giraffes have in common? They’re both the amount of medicines that were returned unused locally last year. Only order what you need and check your pharmacy bag before leaving the pharmacy

 

 

Image of two giraffes inside a circle on a blue background. Text says Do you know how many medicines were returned unused last year? The equivalent weight of 106 giraffes

Image of two giraffes inside a circle on a blue background. Text says Do you know how many medicines were returned unused last year? The equivalent weight of 106 giraffes.