Exclusive A spreadsheet to GPs from the three main national wholesalers on antibiotic availability has laid bare the extent of current shortages.
The information, which Pulse understands will be updated daily to help GPs keep abreast of the current supply position, shows a range of antibiotic preparations and dosages are out of stock.
Phoenix, Alliance and AAH wholesalers currently have no stock of amoxicillin 250mg/5ml suspension or both 125mg/5ml or 250mg/5ml Penicillin V suspension. Only one wholesaler had stocks of sugar free suspension for 125mg Penicillin V liquid.
It comes as the specialist pharmacy service have issued advice on using solid dosage form antibiotics in children.
If children are able to swallow whole tablets, that is the preferred option but Penicillin V tablets can be crushed or dispersed in water where needed, the guidance states.
But 250mg Penicillin tablets were also out of stock in the spreadsheet seen by Pulse, which is being shared with GPs to provide a ‘a day-by-day insight into what is available at the main wholesalers for pharmacies to order which may help inform what to prescribe’.
Pulse has reported that one ICB is advising GPs consider reverting to paper prescriptions due to potential antibiotics prescriptions.
Yet the Government has downplayed reports of supply problems with the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stating in Parliament there were no shortages.
Pharmacists had said they were having difficulty accessing stock with some lines seemingly completely unavailable.
Dr Kieran Sharrock, BMA England GP committee acting chair had commented that pharmacists, GPs and patients were all experiencing shortages locally, and ‘therefore those responsible for supply chains must double down on efforts to ensure there are enough medicines to meet demand’.
On Monday, Pulse reported that GPs had been advised to ‘have a low threshold’ for prescribing antibiotics to children presenting with symptoms.
GP consultations for scarlet fever and disease notifications are rising more steeply than expected for this time of year as are cases of invasive group A streptococcus, although less pronounced, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned.
Updated figures from the UKHSA released on 8 December show so far this season (from 12 September to 4 December) there have been 6,601 notifications of scarlet fever. This compares to a total of 2,538 at the same point in the year during the last comparably high season in 2017 to 2018.
There have also been 85 cases of invasive group A streptococcal infections in children aged 1 to 4 compared to 194 across the whole of the last comparably high season in 2017 to 2018, the UKHSA said.
Since September there have now been 13 deaths in children under 15, the Agency confirmed.
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health president Dr Camilla Kingdon, Royal College of Emergency Medicine president Dr Adrian Boyle and RCGP chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne said: ‘During any winter period colds, flus and bugs are widespread. But with the recent increase in Strep A cases, it’s no wonder that parents are very worried. We’d like to reassure parents and carers that this specific infection is both common and treatable. In fact, the majority of children will recover on their own without the need for antibiotics.
‘The UKHSA are monitoring the situation closely and healthcare professionals are now on high alert for any potential cases of Strep A. As always, if parents are worried about their child’s health, we would urge that they seek medical assistance from a pharmacist, their GP or by calling 111 as a first port of call.’
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘There is no supplier shortage of antibiotics available to treat Strep A. As the Secretary of State said, we sometimes have surges for products and increased demand means some pharmacies are having difficulties obtaining certain antibiotics.
‘We are working urgently with manufactures and wholesalers to explore what can be done to expedite deliveries and bring forward stock they have to help ensure it gets to where it’s needed, to meet demand as quickly as possible and support access to these vital medicines.’
READERS' COMMENTS [5]
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Don’t worry. The HRT Tsar and absent Steve Barclay will sort out “it” out, with a 12-point action plan and intelligent monitoring bar chart. By then, you’ll run out of sertraline too. The media will have essentially killed someone who actually needed some penicillin for something else, but got it 2 days too late. Idiots. Here is a question: who is actually downing and demanding the antibiotics currently out of self-preservation and self-entitlement? The worried well, but just in case I complain. No, let’s not go there ofcourse. The nanny is running late. Must dash.
There is a rapid result throat swab for Strep A, similar to the rapid Covid test, with good specifity and sensitivity, It’s widely used in Canada and the USA, and use dramatically reduces the need to prescribe antibiotics.
Sadly the NHS is often stuck a decade or more behind.
Its available from LLoyds Pharmacies for around a fiver. But NICE decided in 2019 that it should not be used in the NHS. Centor/Feverpain scores were preferred
I did a days locum today. I had 14 tongue depressers in the bin and recall not needing one in two patients. Out of 26! Gone bonkers (self and the patients).
BBC are definitely not helping here.