Pharmacists warn shortage of drugs is putting patients at risk

The government has issued a number of "medicine supply notifications", which highlight shortages including of pain relief used in childbirth, mouth ulcer medication, migraine treatment, an antihistamine, a type of inhaler and a certain brand of insulin.

A poll of 1,562 UK pharmacists for the Pharmaceutical Journal found more than half (54%) believed patients had been put at risk in the past six months due to shortages.

Community pharmacists told the Pharmaceutical Journal in this month that shortages of the osteoporosis medicine alendronic acid were contributing to medication errors when alternatives were prescribed

A pharmacist at a children's hospital in England said problems with variable supply of nutritional products was putting patients at risk

Mike Dent, director of pharmacy funding at the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, told the journal: "We are becoming increasingly concerned about medicine supply issues and the very serious impact this is having on both community pharmacy teams and their patients."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "We take patient safety extremely seriously, and we routinely share information about medicine supply issues directly with the NHS so they can put plans in place to reduce the risk of any shortage impacting patients, including offering alternative medication