Full Breakdown
Widespread Shortages of Common NHS Medicines
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Supply-Chain Pressures Behind the Shortages
The article links the current scarcity to a combination of trade disputes, global conflict and manufacturing difficulties that have weakened the supply chains for basic medicines. While past shortages tended to involve specialist drugs such as those for ADHD or epilepsy, the present gaps increasingly affect inexpensive generic medicines, which are cheaper to produce but apparently more vulnerable to supply-chain shocks.
Scope of the Shortages (Data & Statistics)
- Aspirin: 26 of the 42 trusts that responded reported disruptions between last December and March.
- Co-codamol: 13 of 42 responding trusts ran short; York and Scarborough NHS Trust have faced issues since May 2025, and Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust reported shortages for ten months from October 2025 to August 2026.
- Ramipril: 7 of 43 responding trusts could not obtain sufficient supplies.
- Contingency planning: 92 % of responding trusts said they lacked a plan for drug-supply problems, and 82 % had not reported the scarcities to NHS England.
- Risk rating: NHS England currently rates drug shortages as a “medium” risk (16 / 25) and aims to lower the score to nine within the next month, a target that Catena doubts can be met given the breadth of the issue.
Official Statements & Responses
The Society for Acute Medicine, representing hospital doctors, warned that medicine shortages can disrupt treatment and increase pressure on clinical and pharmacy teams, emphasizing the need for resilient supply chains, timely communication and suitable alternatives. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson acknowledged limited supplies of ramipril and the issuance of “serious shortage protocols” to maintain patient access, while asserting that most UK-licensed medicines remain in good supply and that the government is investing in domestic manufacturing to mitigate future disruptions.
Verbatim Quote
“Medicine shortages can disrupt treatment and create additional pressure for clinical and pharmacy teams. The key is ensuring resilient supply chains, timely communication and access to suitable alternatives so patient care is not delayed.” — Acute Medicine, which represents hospital doctors