Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of their Prepare campaign for national resilience, what consideration they have given to allowing patients to obtain NHS prescriptions further in advance, or for longer periods, so that patients do not run out of essential medicines in the event of disruption.

The Prepare Campaign advice is intended to encourage people who rely on medication to order and collect their next prescription in good time, rather than waiting until their current supply has run out or is about to run out.

Prescribing further in advance or for longer periods is a clinical decision, guided by local policies and professional guidance, taking account of patient safety, monitoring needs and medicine availability.

In England, NHS organisations and community pharmacies have continuity arrangements for disruption, including pharmacy closures and electronic prescription outages.

The Department works with NHS England and suppliers to manage supply disruption. A range of established measures can be used, depending on the circumstances, including coordinating mutual aid, the use of alternative medicines, imports and issuing advice to healthcare professionals. Where appropriate, Serious Shortage Protocols allow pharmacists to supply specified alternatives without a replacement prescription.