Key Summary
- DHSC and NHS have released new posters and leaflets to help staff and patients understand and manage medicines shortages
- Pharmacies are struggling daily, with many spending hours sourcing alternatives because supply problems are widespread
- CPE is urging government action to fix medicine pricing and supply, stop pharmacies dispensing at a loss, and give pharmacists more flexibility
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the NHS have published leaflets and posters for patients, community pharmacies and general practices on ways to deal with the medicine shortages.
These resources available on Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS) website.
It includes as poster providing guidance to pharmacists and GPs on what to do when faced with a shortage of a medicine and where to find the most up to date management advice on national supply issues.
It is intended to be printed and displayed in staff-only areas within community pharmacies, GPs and other primary care sites.
The patient leaflet give patients an understanding of why medicines may be in short supply and where to get advice and support to address some of their concerns.
This leaflet would be handed out to patients who do not receive the medicine(s) they are expecting because of a national supply issue.
The leaflet is supplementary information and should not replace conversations between healthcare professionals and patients regarding medicine shortages.
For community pharmacies, medicine shortages continue to be a daily battle.
A recent Community Pharmacy England report on medicine supply showed that medicines shortages and supply disruptions remain widespread.
Pharmacies have to devote more time to manage medicines supply, with 1 in 4 pharmacy teams spending more than two hours a day sourcing alternatives for their patients.
Earlier this month, Dr James Davies, director of Research and Insights at CPE gave the oral evidence to the House of Lords to highlight the problem.
The CPE has been urging the government to review how medicines are supplied and priced, stop pharmacies from having to dispense at a loss, and give pharmacists more flexibility to adjust prescriptions when needed.
