The Story

The UK’s overprescription epidemic

October 5, 2026
The UK’s overprescription epidemic

A Sunday Times investigation has found England is in an overprescribing epidemic. Adverse reactions to cocktails of medicines are sending a thousand older people to A&E every day, potentially causing deaths, and costing the NHS billions. So how was this overlooked for so long? And can an already overstretched and underfunded NHS fix the problem?


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Guests:

  • John Lees, son-in-law of Joseph Darbyshire.
  • Shaun Lintern, health editor, The Sunday Times.
  • Professor Jugdeep Dhesi, consultant geriatrician at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Olivia Case.


We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: Dad died after a fall. Was his prescription of 10 drugs to blame?

Further listening: The neuroscientists reconsidering near-death experiences

Photo: John and Angela Lees and family.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.


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