British pharmacy is in the throes of a drug shortage which has led to some patients' conditions deteriorating, according to a new survey.
Results of a survey of more than 150 pharmacists across the UK – conducted by pharmacy publication Chemist+Druggist – indicated that 89 per cent of respondents were "very concerned" that patients would be affected and almost a third believed patients had already suffered because difficulties sourcing medicines.
Half the respondents reported that up to 20 drugs were out of stock, with a further quarter claiming they were between 20 and 50 drugs short.
The hardest medicine to obtain was weight loss drug Xenical, followed by antipsychotic Zyprexa, and 55 per cent of those surveyed had waited three days to get emergency stock delivered.
"It undermines [the patients'] confidence in our ability to provide a consistent service. The patients think we are useless," pharmacist Peter Neal from Hertfordshire told the survey.
Almost four in five pharmacists believed it was harder to get hold of products from manufacturers who also ran wholesaler distribution networks.