Medication shortages cause concern

Pharmacist representatives are currently reporting severe medication shortages, due to supply issues.

There are recommended actions for patients and family carers in a leaflet Advice for patients during a medicines shortage, produced during a shortage last year. This asks patients to:

• Order their medicine or repeat prescription in advance, ideally while they still have medication, so the pharmacist can source medicine in good time.
• Talk to their pharmacist in the first instance, and as early as possible
• Avoid stockpiling and ordering more than they need until their next prescription.

The advice also contains FAQs for patients, which include what to do if their medication is not available at their usual pharmacist.

There is an associated poster for pharmacists on handling shortages, which covers notifications and alerts they receive, and when Serious Shortage Protocols (SSP) come into effect: Managing medicines supply issues.