Accessing Antibiotics Safely – and Disposing of Them Responsibly

Antibiotics are vital medicines that save lives. But they won’t treat every infection and using them too often can mean they stop
working when we really need them.
This year, as part of World Antibiotic Awareness Week (18–24 November 2025), NHS West Yorkshire is encouraging people to:

  • Take antibiotics only when prescribed, and exactly as directed.
  • Avoid saving leftover tablets or sharing them with others.
  • Return unused or expired antibiotics to a pharmacy for safe disposal – never throw them away or flush them.
    By using antibiotics safely, we can protect our health today and keep antibiotics working for future generations.
    Find out more at https://seriouslyresistant.com/common-infections/