The All-Party Pharmacy Group (APPG) has launched an inquiry into the impact of medicines shortages on patients in England, the factors causing them and how the issue might be solved.

The APPG said it was calling for written evidence from everyone affected by shortages, including pharmacy teams, GPs, prescribers, patient groups, professional organisations and medicines manufacturers and distributors.

The inquiry invites submissions of evidence via an online questionnaire by January 24.

“This inquiry comes in response to the growing concerns surrounding medicines shortages and its impact on patient care in the UK, including pharmacy teams’ ability to dispense medicines in a timely way,” the APPG said.

It said it wanted “to develop practical recommendations to address” shortages and will hold oral evidence sessions early next year.

Community Pharmacy England, which co-funds the Secretariat of the APPG alongside the Company Chemists’ Association, National Pharmacy Association, Royal Pharmaceutical Society and Independent Pharmacies’ Association, said it was continuing its “own influencing and engagement work in parliament.”

“We are in the process of finalising a busy schedule of events for the coming year to ensure that parliamentarians remain fully up to speed on community pharmacy,” CPE said.

How are medicines shortages impacting your pharmacy and your patients? Let us know by emailing neil.trainis@1530.com