Prescriptions quadruple in Northern Ireland pharmacies amid crisis

As community pharmacies across the country face mounting pressure, Northern Ireland’s Chief Pharmaceutical Officer made a plea to the public not to stockpile medication.

Cathy Harrison told the Northern Ireland Health Committee that GPs have ordered double the amount of paper to print their prescriptions.

Despite repeated warnings for people who need medication not to stockpile, pharmacies have been flooded with orders.

The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer said the coronavirus has not caused a shortage, adding that the general medicine supply chain is flowing across the UK.

“However, the demand from the public for prescription medicines has been tremendous,” she said.

“In Northern Ireland some of our pharmacies are reporting more than four times the volume of prescription items.

“Unfortunately, the messages around stockpiling and over-ordering have not totally got through to the public and I would really like to make a plea to people that there is no need to over-order and there’s no need to stockpile medicines, that we’ve got to keep that medicine supply chain flowing.

“Unfortunately, there are always pressures in the supply chain and at the moment I envisage short term pressures caused by this incredible spike in demand.

“We can take action to address particular concerns but in general the supply chain is flowing but it does rely very much on everyone playing their part, not over ordering or stockpiling medicines of any type.”

She said there are around 200 recently retired pharmacists that could return to the register to help ease pressure in community pharmacies.

Ms Harrison told the Health Committee they are focusing on retired pharmacists before moving to recently graduated pharmacists and students in their final year at university.

She said they are not considering introducing mandatory measures as they have received a “great” response from pharmacists who want to help.

The committee also heard that community pharmacies are being supported in helping with the delivery of prescriptions.

“The advice for everyone is, where possible ask a family member, a friend or a neighbour to collect prescriptions for you,” Ms Harrison added.