Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Accepted
Paragraph: 48
Medicine shortages risk negating general practice capacity gains from Pharmacy First.
Conclusion
It is also especially worrying that shortages are resulting in patients being directed back into general practice. There is a serious risk that any capacity that general practice gains, through services like Pharmacy First, will be negated by the time spent re-issuing prescriptions as a result of shortages, thus undermining this initiative.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government reiterates that current regulations require exact dispensing for patient safety, notes most prescriptions are generic, and explains that a previous proposal for generic substitution was not progressed due to patient safety concerns.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
48
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
Partially Accept. The Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (HMRs 2012) require pharmacists to dispense “in accordance with a prescription”. This has been interpreted to mean supply of medicines must be the exact product and quantity prescribed with some limited exceptions. Most prescriptions dispensed are not subject to supply issues and the pharmacist is able to dispense exactly what is written on the prescription. This works well as prescribers have certainty of what their patient is receiving; the clear separation of roles, prescribing and dispensing, supports patient safety, with a double clinical check on dose and interactions; and patients have consistency as to their dosing regimen. Allowing pharmacists to take local action to alter prescriptions and supply an alternative without an SSP in place and without the full oversight of supply issues that the DHSC Medicines Supply Team has, could have the effect of creating a ‘knock-on’ shortage of the alternative and could thereby have the potential to exacerbate rather than mitigate a supply problem. However, we do recognise there may be occasions where it is appropriate to enable further flexibility to supply an alternative dose or formulation to what was prescribed without going back to the prescriber. We are currently examining options with stakeholders, to assess where and how this could be appropriate, and how any associated risks could be managed. As identified by Lord Darzi’s investigation, primary care is under pressure and in crisis. This Government is committed to addressing these issues, better utilising the skills of pharmacists. This includes introducing a prescribing service delivered by community pharmacists as we shift care from hospital to the community.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗