Patients suffer as supply issues are branded ‘worse than ever’

Stock shortages are worse than ever, with pharmacies spending over an hour every week chasing medicines, an audit by Devon LPC has suggested.

The survey of 70 local pharmacies found that despite pharmacists' best efforts, patients were being harmed by the delays in receiving their medication, with 100 patients suffering "low or moderate harm" over a two-week period.

Experts branded the findings "outrageous" and "unacceptable", and said not enough was being done to tackle stock shortages in the UK.

In the Devon audit, a total of 537 supply issues or 7.7 per pharmacy were recorded over two weeks in November 2010, compared to 369 or 4.7 per pharmacy, in a similar audit in April 2009.

In the latest audit, pharmacists spent on average 20 minutes chasing each medicine issue, which would add up to over 65 hours per pharmacy in a year. In 95 instances, emergency supplies had to be ordered and prescribers were contacted to change prescriptions in some cases.

Devon LPC pharmacist Mark Stone said the results showed the efforts being put in by pharmacists on the front line to help patients get their medicines, and he thanked Devon contractors for taking part in the audit.

Devon pharmacists reported cases of patients splitting tablets and having to visit other pharmacies. And where supply issues occurred, patients had to wait on average 4.4 days to receive their medicines.

The Patients Association warned: "Not only can delays cause physical harm to patients but the stress experienced by them may also have a detrimental effect on health."

The Devon findings were backed by a C+D poll (p8) in which 83 per cent of pharmacists thought stock shortages were worse than ever, and all were experiencing problems.

Reaction to the shortages audit findings

"If patients are waiting 4.4 days for medicines, that's outrageous. You'd be annoyed waiting [that long] for a new fridge."
John D'Arcy, MD, Numark

"It not acceptable that some patients in Devon are having to wait 4.4 days for their medicine."
Katherine Murphy, chief executive, Patients Association

"PSNC is calling for the DH to put in place a framework that allows effective action to be
taken with manufacturers where patients' medicine supplies are not adequate."
Sue Sharpe, PSNC chief executive

"The DH carefully monitors data about supply problems… we will continue to review the
situation and take appropriate action as necessary."
Department of Health spokesperson

"Stock shortages remain a challenge for our teams and take time to resolve,which adds
pressure on an already very busy pharmacy team."
Boots spokesperson