‘Pharmacy bingo’ for patients amid medicine supply shortages at shops

PATIENTS are being forced to play “pharmacy bingo” – travelling from shop to shop to find their treatments – amid a rise in medicine supply shortages, experts have warned.

Health leaders said that some patients are even being forced to “ration” their medicines because of supply problems. It comes as a new poll revealed that medicine shortages are becoming a “daily occurrence” in pharmacies across England.

Treatments for diabetes, ADHD and epilepsy are just some of the medicines that have been in short supply so far this year, Community Pharmacy England said.

As well as “wreaking havoc” on patients, the new survey from Community Pharmacy England has revealed the toll on pharmacy teams across England. Experts have called for a review of the medicine supply chain.

Findings of the survey of 6,100 pharmacy premises in England and 2,000 pharmacy team members in England, include:

■ Nearly all (97 per cent) of pharmacy team members said that their patients are being inconvenienced as a result of medicine supply issues while 79 per cent said patient health is being put at risk as a result.

■ 98 per cent said they had issued more “owings” or “I owe yous” to patients as they are only able to supply part of their prescription.

■ 99 per cent said they are suffering supply issues at least weekly, while 72 per cent said they were facing “multiple issues a day”.

“The medicine supply challenges being faced by community pharmacies and their patients are beyond critical,” said Community Pharmacy England chief executive Janet Morrison.

“Patients with a wide range of clinical and therapeutic needs are being affected on a daily basis and this is going far beyond inconvenience, leading to frustration, anxiety and affecting their health.

“For some patients, not having access to the medicines they need could lead to very serious consequences, even leaving them needing to visit A&E.”

The Department of Health and Social Care has been approached for comment.