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Around 40% of pharmacists say medicines shortages have put patients at risk during the past year, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has said.
In evidence submitted to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Pharmacy’s inquiry into medicines shortages in England, the RPS highlighted the effects of shortages on patient care.
These effects included that shortages of critical medicines can “heighten the risk of adverse events”, as well as cause “delays in patients receiving essential medications”.
The RPS also noted the impact of shortages on the wellbeing and mental health of pharmacists.
“The RPS and Pharmacist Support 2024 ‘Workforce Wellbeing Survey’ of over 6,500 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians found that in the past 12 months, over half reported that medicines shortages directly impacted on their own wellbeing and/or workload. With 40% of respondents suggesting that patients had been put at risk because of shortages,” it said.
The APPG launched an inquiry into medicines shortages in England in response to growing concerns about the impact they are having on patient care in the UK.
It also followed concerns raised by two coroners over shortages of epilepsy and ADHD medicines in December 2024, following the death of two patients.
A survey carried out by The Pharmaceutical Journal in April 2024 found that 861 out of 1,265 (68%) UK-based pharmacists said medicines shortages had put patients at risk in the previous six months.
The RPS evidence said guidance around shortages often prioritises existing patients, while delaying treatment initiation for new patients, which can create “inconsistencies in patient access” and lead to “compromised care” for some individuals.
In addition, patients unable to self-manage their conditions owing to shortages may require additional outpatient appointments or hospital admissions, adding strain to the healthcare system, it said.
Tase Oputu, chair of the RPS’s English Pharmacy Board, noted that the RPS’s evidence draws on its own report ‘Medicines shortages: solutions for empty shelves’.
The report, which was published in November 2024, called for the creation of a national strategy to tackle medicines shortages.
“Medicines shortages continue to impact patients and the work of pharmacists daily, and we will fully engage with and support the inquiry as it develops its own recommendations on behalf of the profession,” added Oputu.
“We look forward to the inquiry drawing on the body of evidence within our report and aligning to some of our key recommendations and remain committed to supporting the APPG in this important piece of work.”
