The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has today welcomed the Government’s announcement that it will consult on enabling pharmacists to have the flexibility to amend prescriptions in response to medicine shortages. This long-awaited change would not only help ensure patients receive timely access to the medicines they need but would also ease workload pressures on health professionals.

As part of a new policy paper, Managing a robust and resilient supply of medicines, the Government has said it will consult on new measures to allow pharmacists to supply a different quantity, strength or formulation against a prescription to improve patient access to medicines.

At present, patients must return to their GP to get their prescription amended, delaying access to medication, increasing bureaucracy and intensifying pressure on an already overburdened system.

This pragmatic move would recognise the clinical expertise of pharmacists and their vital role in maintaining continuity of care during disruptions to medicine supplies. It would not involve making changes to the patient’s treatment.

RPS wrote to the Secretary of State for Health in 2020 outlining the need for legislative change, supported by medical organisations, patient groups and other pharmacy bodies.

RPS President Professor Claire Anderson said:

“This is a landmark moment for pharmacy and patient care. We’ve long campaigned for pharmacists to be empowered to use their professional judgement in the face of medicine shortages, and we’re delighted to see the Government take this important step.

“Pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals who are more than capable of making these decisions safely. This change would help reduce delays for patients and free up valuable GP time, allowing the NHS to function more efficiently.

“It's a win for patients, a win for the NHS, and a win for common sense.

“We look forward to engaging with the Department of Health and Social Care to ensure the proposed measures are implemented effectively.”

The announcement aligns with a key recommendation from the RPS’s influential 2024 report, “Medicine Shortages: solutions for empty shelves”, which called for urgent reforms to enable pharmacists to act swiftly and safely when medicines are unavailable.

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