ICB – Medicine supply patient and healthcare professional help guides

As you know, the Department is working to strengthen how we handle medicine shortages and build more resilient supply chains. As part of this, the Medicine Supply Team has been working with a range of partners to improve the way we communicate about shortages and the guidance we provide. Thanks to your input and feedback, we’ve now put together two help guides—one for patients and one for healthcare professionals—to explain why medicine shortages happen and what to do if they occur. You’ll find the final versions attached. Please feel free to share them within your networks. They’ll also be available to download from the Specialist Pharmacy Services website shortly.

We’d also like to take a moment to thank you for your support in developing these guides. Your feedback has been really important in making sure they meet the needs of both patients and healthcare professionals, and we hope they’ll be useful whenever shortages arise.