Oxfordshire pharmacist says medicine shortages worst he has known

Some people living with heart conditions, stroke risks, eye infections and bipolar disorder are among those unable to get the medications they rely on, a pharmacist has said. Graham Jones, who owns Shrivenham Pharmacy in Oxfordshire, said vital medication like aspirin was harder to obtain because of surging global prices and government funding which was not keeping up with costs. Jones said the current medication shortage was the "worst I've ever known". A government spokesperson said it had "established processes to respond to sudden market price increases" and it would "help ensure pharmacies can continue to obtain medicines for patients". Gillian-Ann Wordsworth, 84, takes Apixaban to prevent and treat blood clots for her heart condition. In recent weeks it has been out of stock and Wordsworth has been put on an alternative medication. She said: "They can't get the Apixaban, so I was without medication all day Saturday. It's all a bit worrying because after all, it is the heart at the end of the day." Jones said: "A lot of very commonly used medications have gone into short supply in a very short period of time." He added that, as well as international problems exacerbating the s