News » Pharmacy Owners' News, Research, Supply Shortages » Medicine supply issues add hours of work
May 9th 2024
Almost three-quarters of pharmacy staff are spending an estimated 1-2 hours a day trying to obtain medicine stock or alternatives, new research from pharmacy leaders show.
Almost all (96%) of pharmacy dispensers say medicine supply issues cause additional workplace stress. Three in five pharmacies said they had to contact GP practices daily about supply chain issues.
In the 2024 Pressures Survey, published by Community Pharmacy England, over 6,000 pharmacy owners reported daily problems with medicine supply issues, affecting patient health and wellbeing. Two in five respondents (84%) said patients had become aggressive.
Among the medicines currently affected by supply disruptions are those for diabetes, ADHD, and epilepsy.
Commenting on the findings, Community Pharmacy England said medicines supply issues added to the already intolerable operational and financial pressures that pharmacies face, and would fuel pharmacy closures.
DDA Chairman Dr Richard West added: “Dispensing practices buy medicines in the same marketplace place as community pharmacies and experience the same problems. The Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England need to work with contractors to help ameliorate these problems."
