Hospitals in England are experiencing shortages of common drugs used for pain relief, blood clot prevention, and high blood pressure. Aspirin, co-codamol (a combination of paracetamol and codeine), and the blood pressure tablet ramipril are among the medications affected.
Dozens of NHS trusts across England have reported scarcities of these drugs. Nine trusts have faced problems obtaining two of the three common medications, while Kent Community Health NHS Trust reported shortages of all three.
The most widespread shortage involved aspirin, with 26 (62%) of 42 responding trusts experiencing supply disruption between December last year and March this year. Thirteen (31%) of 42 trusts reported co-codamol shortages, and seven (16%) of 43 trusts had difficulty getting enough ramipril.
Dr Rodolfo Catena, an expert in global health supplies at University College London, gathered these findings through freedom of information requests to 184 trusts, with 60 responding. He believes these shortages indicate that NHS England's classification of drug scarcities as only a “medium” risk to care provision may be incorrect.
A spokesperson for the Society for Acute Medicine stated that medicine shortages can disrupt treatment and add pressure on clinical and pharmacy teams. They emphasised the importance of resilient supply chains, timely communication, and access to suitable alternatives to prevent delays in patient care.
A health department spokesperson confirmed awareness of limited ramipril supply, stating that serious shortage protocols have been issued. They added that work is ongoing with suppliers to resolve issues with ramipril, co-codamol, and aspirin to ensure continuity of supply.