Antibiotics shortage

[Sugarpaper]

DD got diagnosed with tonsillitis today and the doctor prescribed antibiotics. We have been to every pharmacy near us and they have all run out. We are North West. Any advice about what to do? Can she wait until tomorrow and we will search again? Or should I be finding somewhere tonight? Waiting back on a 111 callback for advice.

Most pharmacies can order in for the next day. Have you got one that's still open nearby who you could ask to do this?

When this happened with medication for DD2 the pharmacy called their other local branches to source for us.

If not, ask the pharmacist if they stock any suitable alternatives that could be prescribed instead.

Once the GP had prescribed a specific hard to get brand, the pharmacist advised us to go back to GP requesting X Brand, and they held it for us until we had the new script. GP surgery rushed it through so we were able to collect on the same day.

Which antibiotic and where are you ?

We had similar yesterday. Was told it was the strength that was the problem. Found some in pharmacy number 5 but along the way was told to go back to GP to get prescribed a different antibiotic.

Nearly every antibiotic is out of stock at the main 2 pharmacy wholesalers, it’s insane.
I’ve spent all day trying to order them or sort out new prescriptions for alternative medicines.

Which medication is you’re looking for?

There's 'no problem' apparently eyeroll I hope you're sorted soon

Thanks everyone. It's phenoxymethylpenicillin (think I have spelled that right!) We have found a pharmacy still open but not answering their phone so my DH is heading there now. Fingers crossed.

This is really scary

Same thing happened to 2 of my friends in Leeds and Manchester, pharmacy out of stock. They had to be prescribed a different antibiotic that was in stock instead.

There are a fair few suitable alternatives for strep throat/tonsillitis. If you are unable to get it tonight, call the GP tomorrow and ask for one of the alternative antibiotics, or find out which the pharmacy has stock for first perhaps?

Hopefully Michelle Mone can step up and order £1000 millions worth at short notice. They won't work, but at least it will keep some more Tory cronies' pockets lined

This is the one we had problems with. DD has a 10 day course, I've got to go back on Friday for the second lot of 5 days and am worried I won't be able to.

Yup. It's now a national issue.

The messaging about Strep has been really poor and created chaos and panic unnecessarily.

DOI: doctor in a children's hospital under huge pressure due to this

hope You get sorted op!

This is really frightening. I’ve been reassured that should DS exhibit symptoms we would get him to the GP and get antibiotics in him quickly but what do you do if you can’t get the antibiotics? Is it one specific one they are short of or all the whole family of ABs for treating strep A related illnesses?

Also in NW trying to get same prescription today for Scarlet Fever. Pharmacy said we will be highly unlikely to get hold of it and to ask the GP to prescribe Amoxicillin instead. Which he did, and is perfectly suitable thank goodness. In retrospect DS is 10, and already takes a daily tablet so I should have just asked for tablets of which there isn't a shortage on - and what the government are leading with in their propaganda today. It's oral liquid that is in extremely short supply.

In my pharmacy if we give you 1 bottle we save you a second so you’d definitely get both. If we couldn’t do that we’d tell you when giving out the 1st bottle so you’re aware.

Interesting thread on Reddit about this, posted by someone working in a pharmacy. It's not just UK and it isn't new.
www.reddit.com/r/pharmacy/comments/ze76rs/uk_antibiotic_shortage/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Antibiotic shortages aren’t new, there’s been many occasions when different ones have become unavailable or there’s been national shortages. The same happened a couple of years ago for intravenous furosemide which is given to get rid of excess fluid in heart failure patients and tazocin, an intravenous antibiotics.
I had to go around a few pharmacists a few years ago looking for the same antibiotics as OP so nothing has changed.
please don’t people be worried, there are many antibiotics that treat the same thing.
I hope you managed to get what you needed OP.

Thanks everyone. The final pharmacy did indeed have it in stock so we are sorted for 5 days and then can return for 5 more. Hope I didn't panic or worry anyone - I just wasn't sure what to do. The calm posters above are hopefully reassuring.

This is quite concerning if you look on social media there seem to be a lot of reports or parents saying they’ve been unable to get antibiotics for strep a infection, driving for hours / miles to find any.

is this a problem?

can any pharmacists / doctors on here explain what the situation is? Is there a shortage of specific antibiotics? Do they always have alternatives? Is it the liquid form that’s unavoidable or just generally all are in low stock? It feels a concern that are children are all in school being exposed to illness if there’s a chance We can’t treat them should they end up catching strep a?! I appreciate it’s rare it turns into the ‘dangerous strep’ but surely standard scarlet fever is dangerous for many people if there’s no antibiotic available to treat it?

Have you read the thread, people have literally shared this info you're asking for 🤨

We are north west and got antibiotics no issues this week.

Can you ask for pills instead of suspension? Gp said she may have to prescribe DS (age 5) pills, and open them up and add to yoghurt etc. She said it’s not usually recommended but They have said to do it now during this shortage. Luckily the pharmacy had suspension but only half of it, so have an owing note and May end up with pills. ?

Oh duh sorry didn’t see your update.

Husband is in charge of buying for a large National pharmacy. The suspension is out of stock with his suppliers. But also the second third and fourth line antibiotic. He has had to advise tablets in certain cases.