06/06/2026
Have you had to visit multiple pharmacies recently to find your medication, only to be told that stock is unavailable?
This can be frustrating, worrying and sometimes even affect treatment. Medicine shortages become a daily reality for pharmacy teams - as Community Pharmacy England has accurately described it as a “Distressing New Normal” for the sector.
What many patients may not realise is the scale of the challenges community pharmacies are facing each day.
Years of inadequate NHS funding, rapidly rising medicine costs, ongoing medicine shortages affecting hundreds of medicines, and the closure of over 1000 pharmacies across England have placed enormous pressure on the sector.
At the same time community pharmacies are being asked to deliver an expanding range of crucial NHS services to help relieve pressure on GP surgeries and hospitals. Every pharmacy closure means fewer healthcare services available locally and greater pressure on those that remain.
Despite these pressures our pharmacy teams continue to show up every day for their communities. What many patients don’t see is the work taking place behind the scenes. Pharmacy teams spend long hours every day contacting suppliers, checking alternative wholesalers, liaising with Gp surgeries, sourcing stock, resolving prescription issues and helping patients navigate medication shortages while continuing to provide essential NHS services.
We appreciate your patience and understanding during these difficult times. Please know that pharmacy teams across the country are working tirelessly to help patients access the treatments they need, despite challenges that are often beyond their control.
Thank you for supporting your local pharmacy.💚
