GPs to be given ‘real-time’ medicine shortages information ‘this year’
The Government will enable GPs to see medicine shortages ‘in real time’ this year, so that they can supply alternative scripts if needed, a minister has said.
Dr Zubir Ahmed, under-secretary of state for health innovation and safety, was speaking at the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) winter reception when he made the announcement.
It comes as earlier this month a House of Lords committee report said medicines shortages in the UK is a national security issue that should be given more priority. Chief among its recommendations was for shortages to be better communicated to GPs to enable them to support patients.
Speaking last night, at the NPA reception hosted at the House of Lords, Dr Ahmed said: ‘Right now, GPs cannot see live national medicine shortages when they’re prescribing but this year, we’re going to make it possible for GPs to be aware of these shortages in real time.
‘This will mean GPs can prescribe a similar antibiotic if they know that one is out of stock, and patients will no longer have to go from pharmacy for pharmacy for medicines that are simply not available.’
The Government has not given a date for when the changes will come into force.
There is a persistent a lack of communication to GPs, pharmacists and other frontline staff about both shortages and solutions, the House of Lords Public Services Committee concluded earlier this month.
As well as undermining patient care, medicines supply disruptions place additional pressure and cost on the NHS including GP practices, it said.
It comes amidst increasing concerns about ongoing issues with medicines shortages, including pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, HRT, and rheumatology, diabetes and epilepsy drugs.
The committee heard that medicines supply notifications are not integrated into GP systems so they may be unaware of issues when prescribing.
The Government needs to improve how it shares information about shortages and availability with GPs, hospitals and pharmacies, the report found.
Medicine supply should be included in the Government’s National Risk Register, with regular preparedness exercises to practise for large-scale medicine manufacturing issues.
And more must be done to boost the UK manufacture of generic medicines and ingredients used by the NHS, it recommended.
Last year, a committee of MPs found that medicines shortages in England have escalated from being isolated incidents to ‘a persistent challenge’ with ‘significant consequences for patients.
A version of this article was first published by Pulse’s sister title The Pharmacist
Visit Pulse Reference for details on 140 symptoms, including easily searchable symptoms and categories, offering you a free platform to check symptoms and receive potential diagnoses during consultations.
Related Articles
READERS' COMMENTS [2]
Please note, only GPs are permitted to add comments to articles
Saving 5p swapping NacSYS to Acepiro at the request of ScriptSwitch, confusing patients and waiting for a pharmacy comment of “sorry can’t get that brand” is soul destroying. They won’t do anything that isn’t somehow going to save them money by giving us more work.
Neither myself nor my patients want ‘real time medicines shortages information’.
We all want to have a reliable supply of the medications that will remain available.
The only way to do this is for Britain to set up manufacturing systems for it’s own independent supply of medications, instead of relying on the whims of profiteering multinationals who have no care for the plight of patients disrupted by brand changes and supply issues!