I too buy my own batteries...and I buy my own paracetamol. You have made an excellent observation. Sadly, what you've shared is far worse than what you've shared.
I do volunteer work and I cannot tell you how many of the old dears are guilty of repeatedly ticking virtually every single prescription on their list for repeat, regardless of whether they need them or not.
About 8 months ago, one old dear who passed away, leaving me with the sadness, disgust, and amazement of emptying her sad little flat had a cupboard containing over 122 boxes of a anti-hypertensive medication. Many of the boxes had already expired, making it impossible for the chemist to accept them back for donation. (I did find a group outside of the UK who were grateful for them, but that's not the point.)
Yes, we have a serious problem and it's getting worse. Personally, I've always endorsed the idea of imposing a fee for any doctor appointments missed, due to failure to cancel in advance. I'd endorse allowing one or two 'boo boo's ' each year, but this chronic failure to appear nonsense is beyond the pale.
Well done you for bring up the issue. And just as an aside, whilst I can't deliver a bed back into the system, this year I think I've surreptitiously dropped off eight zimmer frames at our local hospital.
I find it's much easier to live by the adage "it is much easier to get forgiveness than it is to get permission!"
Perhaps if enough of us spoke to our MP's, someone would table some of these simple ideas to help effect change.
But for now....well done you!
Ollie+