How NHS Medicine Shortages Work — Explained —

Medicine shortages are more common than most people realise. Here's how the system works and what happens behind the scenes when your medication runs low.

Why Do Medicine Shortages Happen?

There are many causes of medicine shortages in the UK:

Manufacturing problems — factory shutdowns, quality issues, or raw material shortages
Global demand spikes — like during COVID-19 or the GLP-1 agonist surge
Regulatory changes — post-Brexit import complications
Commercial decisions — companies discontinuing low-profit products
Supply chain disruptions — shipping delays, warehouse issues

How Does the DHSC Respond?

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) issues Medicine Supply Notifications (MSNs) when they become aware of a shortage. These are rated by severity from Tier 1 (minor) to Tier 4 (critical).

What Are Serious Shortage Protocols?

Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) are issued by the NHSBSA and allow pharmacists to supply alternative medications without going back to the prescriber. This speeds up access for patients and reduces GP workload.

SSPs specify exactly which alternatives a pharmacist can provide, ensuring patient safety. Currently, there are multiple active SSPs in the UK.

How MedWatch Helps

We monitor both DHSC MSNs and NHSBSA SSPs daily, combining them into a single, patient-friendly service. Instead of trawling government websites, you get a simple email alert when your medications are affected.

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Data sources: DHSC Medicine Supply Notifications · NHSBSA Serious Shortage Protocols · NHS England
Page last updated: 7 February 2026. Data checked daily.