Community Pharmacy England (CPE) yesterday (November 27) shared that the Department of Health and Social Care (DH) and NHS England (NHSE) have published “leaflets and posters” for community pharmacists on how to handle medicine shortages.
It said that the resources have been created to guide pharmacists on “what to do when faced with medicine supply issues” and where “to find the most up-to-date management advice on national supply issues” to ensure they can “best support their patients”.
The poster is “intended to be printed and displayed in staff-only areas” in community pharmacies, it added.
Read more: Hospital lead: Give pharmacies ‘more support’ with drug shortages
It reminded pharmacists that while most medicines “are in good supply”, drug supply chains are “highly complex and global” with shortages arising “for a wide range of reasons”.
It also told pharmacists to refer to the medicines supply tool for “the latest information”.
“Counsel patients”
In the event of a shortage, the DH and NHSE “suggest” that community pharmacists should:
- “Explain to patients” that there is a medicine supply issue and “whether this is a national shortage or a local issue”
- “Share information” on the anticipated resupply dates
- “Ensure” that patients are not “left without treatment or alternative options”
- “Counsel patients” on the alternative treatment option, “reassuring them” they are receiving “appropriate” treatment
- “Inform patients” when unlicensed medicines are prescribed and “advise them appropriately”
- Advise patients “not to ration or stockpile” medication
- Refer patients to a DH and NHSE “guide…aimed specifically to support” them
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The poster also advised community pharmacists to “stay up to date with live serious shortage protocols (SSPs)” and to contact wholesalers and “check their website for information” when a potential shortage is identified.
And it reminded pharmacists to “report new issues via CPE”.
Read more: House of Lords launches inquiry into medicine shortages
It comes after a hospital medicines lead this month told parliamentarians that if he could do “anything” to improve secondary care resilience it would be to give community pharmacies “more support” in handling shortages.
In July, the pharmacy all-party parliamentary group (APPG) called for “immediate and coordinated” action following its findings that 84% of pharmacists encounter “daily” shortages that are placing an “unsustainable burden” on their teams.
And in August, the House of Lords Public Services Committee announced the launch of a “medicines security” inquiry to look into the “UK’s ability to predict and prevent medicine supply issues”.
