Supply issues

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.…

Coroners raise concerns about medicines shortages following two patient deaths

The ‘Prevention of future deaths’ reports, published on 20 and 31 December 2024, were issued following deaths of patients who had experienced supply issues with their ADHD and epilepsy medications, respectively.…

Government should publish national strategy to tackle medicines shortages, says RPS

In ‘Medicines shortages policy: solutions for empty shelves’, published on 26 November 2024, the Society makes 20 recommendations to alleviate ongoing medicines shortages in the UK.…

Bruce Warner: ‘Medicines shortages will never go away, but the situation can be improved’

The chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s advisory group on medicines shortages discusses the causes of medicines shortages and how the issue can be improved.…

Over 40% of people with cystic fibrosis have experienced significant health problems resulting from PERT shortage

A survey carried out by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust revealed that 20% of patients are losing weight owing to a shortage in pancreatic enzyme replacement therapies.…