Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support he is providing to dispensing GP practices in Newbury to help prevent shortages of aspirin.

The Department monitors and manages medicine supply at a national level so that stocks remain available to meet regional and local demand.

The Department is aware of a recent disruption to the supply of aspirin tablets due to manufacturing issues and knock-on increased demand. The issues have been addressed, and we are working with suppliers to aid a return to normal supply as soon as possible, with stock regularly being made available for pharmacies to order. Guidance has been issued to healthcare professionals with management advice to consider until the supply issue fully resolves.

We are working with all partners in the supply chain, including manufacturers and United Kingdom distributors, to ensure maximum accessibility to pharmacies and hospitals irrespective of where they are in the country.

The Department will continue to monitor the situation and expects supplies to return to normal over the coming weeks.