PHARMACIES in Halton want to highlight medication shortages affecting all pharmacies across the country. 

Farnworth Village Pharmacy and Hale Village Pharmacy, which are run by the Imaan Healthcare group, are raising awareness of a national medicine shortage.

Pharmacists have been struggling to obtain stock for various medications across a range of health areas, including HRT, epilepsy, acne and contraception.

Popular brands like Beechams, Calpol and Gaviscon, as well as more generic offerings such as Paracetamol, have been affected by supply issues.

Imaan Healthcare says these shortages are nationwide, and are affecting all pharmacies throughout the UK.

A spokesman commented: “Supply of most products across all industries have been affected by rising costs of raw materials, staff resources, fuel and energy.

“The pharmaceutical sector is just one of many affected by these issues.

“Furthermore, we must take into account the impact of Brexit which contributes to these rising costs.”

Pharmacists are trying to source medication from wholesalers or other pharmacies but are struggling to get hold of them, the group said.

A pharmacy would typically place an order expecting to receive them on the next run.

However, they have recently experienced missing and incorrect tote boxes, the supply of incorrect medication, and the supply of too little and too much medication.

This creates extra work and stress for the pharmacy team, who must spend additional time creating credit notes, but it is ultimately the patient who suffers in the end.

Imaan Healthcare says that when unable to receive the medication they need, many patients have unacceptably become angry and directed abuse at pharmacy staff.