Patients should bring their own medicines with them to hospital.

That's the advice from NHS Fife who say it would help prevent missed doses, waste and aid a safe discharge from hospital.

Unused prescriptions costs NHS Fife £2 million per year, but when a patient brings their medication into hospital it also helps staff know what they take and what they should be prescribed.

One Stop Dispensing has been introduced within all wards at the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy and will involve distributing inpatient and discharge medication all in a single supply during a patient's stay. 

People are encouraged to bring all their prescriptions with them, including supplements and herbal remedies, in their original containers.

Once their medicine has been assessed by a pharmacist, they can be used during the patient's hospital stay and/or when they go home.