NHS patients face worst drug shortages on record, say pharmacists and GPs
Pharmacists and GPs in the UK are reporting record-breaking shortages of essential medications, including painkillers, epilepsy drugs, and HRT. These supply chain issues are forcing patients to ration doses or skip meals, raising significant concerns about patient safety.
Why it matters
Persistent medicine shortages threaten public health and place an immense burden on both patients and the healthcare infrastructure.
One patient spoke of the panic of being ‘on the phone for hours … driving around’ to visit pharmacies. Photograph: Matthew Horwood/Alamy View image in fullscreen One patient spoke of the panic of being ‘on the phone for hours … driving around’ to visit pharmacies. Photograph: Matthew Horwood/Alamy Pharmaceuticals industry NHS patients face worst drug shortages on record, say pharmacists and GPs Supply problems pose risk to health, with common painkillers, epilepsy medication and HRT affected
The article reports on official warnings from professional bodies and provides personal accounts without overt political editorializing.
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