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Drug shortages leave primary care staff exposed to abuse from frustrated patients

BMJ 2022; 377 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o1100 (Published 29 April 2022) Cite this as: BMJ 2022;377:o1100
  1. Gareth Iacobucci
  1. The BMJ

Worsening drug shortages are leaving primary care staff exposed to rising levels of abuse from patients who are frustrated at being unable to access their medication, sector leaders have told The BMJ.

Longstanding supply chain problems, the impact of Brexit and the pandemic, and high levels of demand have all contributed to shortages.

Many areas of the UK are currently experiencing shortages of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) treatments, which experts are attributing to sudden increases in demand for oestrogen, particularly transdermal products.

Martin Marshall, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said, “The college is concerned to see supply problems around the provision of HRT and we …

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