Medicines Shortages
Please note, this page is intended for community pharmacy teams. If you are a patient or member of the public who wishes to query the availability of a medicine you have been prescribed, the first step is to speak to a member of your local pharmacy team directly.
Pharmacies may find the following guide useful:
NHS England » A guide to the systems and processes for managing medicines supply issues in England
Information leaflet for patients: Where’s my medicine?
Shortages Briefing for ICB/GPs – link
The SPS online Medicines Supply Tool is available to pharmacists who have an account with the SPS website.
The tool provides up-to-date information about medicine supply issues. You can use it to search for information on medicine supply issues by drug class, issue severity, or by new, ongoing, or resolved. You can also check when a medicine is expected to be back in stock.
Tool content is populated and maintained by the DHSC and NHSE CMU Medicines Supply teams.
SPS (specialist Pharmacy Service) Resources:
Posters (Published 10 October 2025)
A collection of posters designed by SPS for healthcare professionals to print and display in the workplace are now available.
