Stock Shortages
The latest ICB guidance on this issue can be found at the following link- Cheshire and Merseyside ICB ask that this is reviewed by teams to understand the issues faced across Primary Care and the steps C&M ICB can take to minimise this impact.
https://www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/your-health/prescribing/statements/medicines-shortages/
- The ICB will continue to circulate across medicines optimisation teams meds shortages guidance to support and inform practices or current issues identified locally.
- The ICB ask that both pharmacies and prescribers refer to the medicines supply tool and shortage database available here: https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/tools/medicines-supply-tool/?status=All&sort=last_modified&order=desc&q=co, which should be utilised to guide medication availability and alternatives.
- Maintain awareness that not all pharmacies use the same wholesalers and this, along with impact of wholesaler quotas, can mean a disparity across pharmacies of what medicines can, and cannot, be ordered. Also some wholesalers can show stock availability but where they have more than one site/depot, the stock may not be available equally across all sites/ depots.
- Patients should be supported to seek supply of a prescribed medication at an alternative pharmacy where stock is available locally, however prescribers may be requested to provide prescriptions for alternatives when this is not a viable or available option.
- Pharmacies can report stock shortages nationally using this form – Shortage Reporting Form – Community Pharmacy England
- Consideration can be taken for use of a Serious Shortage Protocol where available- https://cpe.org.uk/dispensing-and-supply/supply-chain/ssps/
- Further stock shortage information and guidance for pharmacies can be found – Medicine Shortages – Community Pharmacy England
- The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England (NHSE) have published guidance on the management of medicines supply and shortages, which outlines the processes they follow to try and address any shortages.
- Pharmacies should attempt to supply “with reasonable promptness” a medication as prescribed where this is available and possible.
- If a medication is available but is identified as differing in price from that identified in the Drug Tarif the pharmacy should inform CPE to support consideration for a Price Concession – Report product over Drug Tariff price – Community Pharmacy England
Halton CCG Medicines Shortages Guidance
