Medicine shortages in England: 20% of patients face delays in obtaining prescriptions

The growing issue of medicine shortages is posing significant challenges for both patients and pharmacy teams across the UK.

According to new data from the Office for National Statistics, 20 per cent of adults who used pharmacy prescription services in the last 28 days experienced delays
in receiving their medications.

The survey, Experiences of NHS healthcare services in England, revealed that over 13 per cent of patients had to return to the same pharmacy at a later time to
obtain their prescriptions.

Many patients were forced to visit multiple pharmacies or seek alternative services such as a GP or urgent care due to medicine shortages.

Pharmacy teams were added with extra burden to manage and resolve these issues.

Despite these challenges, 85 per cent of patients expressed satisfaction with pharmacy services, reflecting the dedication and value of pharmacists and pharmacy
teams in the community.