East Yorkshire pharmacies may face temporary interruptions to stocks of some antibiotics, according to an NHS official following a worker’s claims of shortages.
A worker at a Humberside pharmacy, who asked not to be named, told LDRS stocks of phenoxymethylpenicillin were very low and becoming increasingly difficult to get hold of.
They added it was causing frustration and panic among some parents amid rising Strep A cases but said there was nothing they could do until more supplies become available.
A Department of Health spokesperson said there was no shortage of supplies but surges in demand meant some pharmacies had had difficulties getting new stocks.
It comes as England’s Chief Pharmaceutical Officer David Webb said in a letter to pharmacists the NHS and Government were working to ensure supplies of antibiotics are available.
Mr Webb said that while enough stocks were available at a national level, some local pharmacies may face temporary interruptions to supplies.
But the pharmacy worker said they had gone from being able to get new supplies of antibiotics in a day to struggling to get hold of new stocks.
They said:
“Ministers in parliament are claiming that there is no shortage or supply issue of the drug.
“But we contact suppliers to ask if they have any, their response is that it is not available, so how are we meant to get a hold of it?
“This is causing disruption and causing parents to panic and we are the ones who get it in the neck.
“We understand parents’ and guardians’ frustration when they come to the pharmacy to get the medication but with it not being available, there is nothing we can do.”
Mr Webb wrote in his letter pharmacies should reassure worried parents and carers and also avoid ordering excessive amounts of antibiotics so supplies are not strained further.
The official said:
“Supplies of antibiotics for the treatment of Group A Strep [Strep A] have seen a surge in demand and may be in limited supplies at certain wholesalers and pharmacies, particularly phenoxymethylpenicillin presentations.
“Supplies are readily available with manufacturers and deliveries into wholesalers are being expedited and are expected in the coming days.”
The Department for Health and NHS have procedures in place to deal with medicine shortages, including restricting exports in serious cases.
The Department’s spokesperson said: “There is no supplier shortage of antibiotics available to treat Strep A.
“As Health Secretary Steve Barclay said, we sometimes have surges for products and increased demand means some pharmacies are having difficulties obtaining certain antibiotics.
“We are working urgently with manufacturers 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.”
UK Health Security Agency figures showed 851 cases of Strep A, a strain of Scarlet fever, were reported in the week up to Sunday, November 20.
The average for the same time during previous years was 186.
Scarlet fever is a mild illness but highly infections, though in rare cases it can become serious.
Symptoms include a sore throat, headache, and fever, along with a fine, pinkish or red body rash with a sandpapery feel.
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