Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the time spent by pharmacists trying to source medications during shortages.

No assessment of the amount of time spent by pharmacists trying to source medications during shortages has been made. However, this issue has been considered when we consulted on proposals to enable pharmacist flexibilities when dispensing medicines. More information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/enabling-pharmacist-flexibilities-when-dispensing-medicines/enabling-pharmacist-flexibilities-when-dispensing-medicines#how-to-respond

Pharmacists were invited to submit evidence to inform the accompanying impact assessment as to the number of times and time taken to source medicines for patients. We will issue a formal consultation response in the coming months.

The Department has an online reporting tool, known as the Discontinuations and Shortages (DaSH) portal, launched in October 2020, which suppliers can use to notify the Department.

We issue National Health Service communications on supply issues when they arise, to provide management advice and information on the issue to healthcare professionals including pharmacists, so they can advise and support their patients. The Department has produced guidance leaflets for patients, community pharmacies, and general practitioners to support them during medicines shortages. These are also available on the Specialist Pharmacy Services website at the following link:

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/medicines-shortages-leaflets-and-posters/