Supply issues

Pharmacists could be given right to amend prescriptions to tackle medicines shortages

The Department of Health and Social Care has outlined proposals to give pharmacists the ability to supply an alternative strength or formulation to improve patient access.…

Nine in ten pharmacies report increase in shoplifting over past year

A survey of independent pharmacies revealed almost one-quarter of respondents (22%) have experienced physical assaults on staff over the past year.…

GPhC warns of emerging patient safety issues

In a letter to pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy owners, Roz Gittins has highlighted concerns reported to the regulator and the importance of ensuring safe and effective pharmacy care for patients.…

House of Lords committee calls for evidence on medicines supply resilience

The call for evidence highlights an investigation, conducted by The Pharmaceutical Journal, that found an almost 70% increase in medicines shortages reported to the government between 2021 and 2023.…

MPs call for more patient input to address UK’s medicines shortages problem

A report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Pharmacy has called for the creation of a national patient advisory panel on medicines shortages.…

Three-quarters of pharmacists say patient safety is at risk from medicine delays

Responding to Community Pharmacy England’s pharmacy pressures survey, 87% of pharmacy staff also reported daily problems arising from supply issues, up from 67% in 2022.…

What difference will hub-and-spoke dispensing actually make?

This month, our health policy columnist mulls over the true impact of the roll-out of hub-and-spoke community pharmacy prescription filling between different organisations.…

Pharmacists asked to assist in switching patients from Promixin by end of April 2025

A national patient safety alert advises that Colicym 1-million-unit power for nebuliser solution unit dose vials should be considered as an alternative treatment.…

MPs call for urgent review into medicines shortages

A letter from 45 cross-party MPs has urged the government to look into medicines shortages to ensure patients have their “life-saving medications”.…

Almost 400,000 patients unable to get prescriptions from their local pharmacy, analysis reveals

The Liberal Democrats have urged the government to take steps to address cost increases that are affecting medicines access and struggling pharmacies.…