Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on enabling pharmacists to use their professional judgement to support patient access to appropriate treatment when a medicine is out of stock.

The Department engages on an ongoing basis with representatives from the community pharmacy sector.

The Department has well established processes to manage and mitigate the supply problems that may arise due to manufacturing or distribution issues and this has always been the case. It receives regular reports from the pharmaceutical industry about issues which may potentially interrupt the supply of medicines that may affect United Kingdom patients. Where shortages do occur, pharmacists are expected to use their professional judgement in deciding the best course of action for their patients.