HEALTH bosses are urging people to find out about their medicines.

Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trusts wants patients to better understand the medication they have been given. All 15 community pharmacies in the area have been asked to participate in the campaign.

A national survey found that about 70 per cent of the population are taking medicines at any given time.

But half of the medicines prescribed for long-term conditions are not taken as prescribed.

Ken Latta, head of medicines management at the trust, said: "Community pharmacists can provide expert advice on medicines and the public should be encouraged to drop in to their local chemists to ask.

"Patient education should be available at all stages in the supply of medicines and this will ensure the patient agrees to having a medicine prescribed and knows how it will help them.

"Improving this understanding will improve how it is taken, which should mean the medicine does what it needs to do."

The campaign in North Yorkshire coincides with national Ask About Medicines Week.