Morrison emphasized that delays in medicine supply can lead to significant stress and potential harm to patients' health, with pharmacy teams under increasing pressure to manage these shortages.

Pharmacy teams are feeling the strain, spending longer hours resolving supply issues, which includes contacting suppliers and GPs for alternatives.

Community Pharmacy England also noted ongoing shortages for drugs used in ADHD, diabetes, and epilepsy treatment, indicating a systemic issue affecting patient care.

A recent survey of over 4,300 pharmacy owners and 1,600 pharmacy workers revealed that a staggering 95% of staff report ongoing patient inconvenience due to drug shortages, with 73% indicating a direct risk to patient health.

Pharmacists described medicine shortages as a 'distressing new normal,' significantly impacting patient health, according to findings from Community Pharmacy England.

In response to these challenges, the Department of Health and Social Care has acknowledged the ongoing global supply issues and is implementing measures to mitigate disruption, including a £617 million funding commitment to support community pharmacies.

To address the critical shortages, the government has issued serious shortage protocols (SSPs) for essential medications, including those for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, angina, and various antibiotics.

Janet Morrison, chief executive of Community Pharmacy England, noted that the shortages are exacerbated by product discontinuations and global supply chain challenges, alongside low medicine prices in the UK that discourage manufacturers.

The survey found that pharmacy staff are dedicating considerable time to sourcing medications, with 39% spending one to two hours daily and 26% spending more than two hours on this task.

The report highlighted a worsening situation from 2022 to 2025, as more pharmacy teams reported negative effects on patients stemming from supply delays.

Overall, the ongoing supply issues are causing significant stress and risk to patient health, with the pharmacy system nearing breaking point.