UK Households Urged to Ration Popular Painkiller as Major Shortage to Last Four Months
UK households are being advised to ration a widely used painkiller due to a significant shortage expected to persist for months. The National Health Service (NHS) has announced that only half the typical supply of prescription-strength co-codamol is projected to be available until June, prompting urgent calls for patient action.
Pharmacy Leaders Issue Rationing Guidance
Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association, which represents approximately 5,000 pharmacies, has emphasized the need for caution. "People taking co-codamol should ration their supplies until supplies become stable in the summer," she stated. "They might be able to offer you alternatives." This advice follows warnings from NHS health boards and hospitals about dwindling stock levels, with co-codamol being prescribed over a million times annually in the UK.
NHS Health Boards Implement Reduction Strategies
In response to the crisis, NHS Lanarkshire has instructed patients, excluding those undergoing cancer treatment, to gradually reduce their tablet intake over the coming weeks and eventually stop completely. "If you are taking your co-codamol tablets every day, you need to start reducing your tablets now," the board advised. Similarly, NHS Grampian has urged pharmacists to exercise professional judgment in prioritizing stock and limiting quantities supplied to patients.
Concerns Over Disruption and Stockpiling
Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board has expressed deep concern about the potential disruption. "We are very mindful of the enormous disruption this may cause," they noted, advising against issuing large quantities and warning of possible stockpiling attempts, even for infrequent or as-needed supplies.
Calls for Government Action and Substitution Policies
Olivier Picard, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), described the situation as "a distressing shortage." He assured that pharmacies with remaining supplies are doing their utmost to manage them for patient needs. Picard further called on the government to address the growing list of medicine shortages, which are impacting both patients and pharmacists. "One thing they could easily do is allow pharmacists to make simple, safe substitutions to prescriptions where an item is out of stock, and save patients having to return to their GP without medication," he suggested.
The shortage highlights ongoing challenges in the UK's medicine supply system, with healthcare professionals urging proactive measures to mitigate patient hardship during this critical period.
