Our Data Sources
MediWatch UK aggregates medicine shortage data exclusively from official, authoritative sources:
- DHSC Medicine Supply Notifications (MSNs) — Published by the Department of Health and Social Care via the Specialist Pharmacy Service. These are the primary official record of medicine supply disruptions in the UK.
- NHS England Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) — Issued by NHS England when a shortage is severe enough to require pharmacists to supply alternative medicines without contacting prescribers.
- NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) — For prescription volume and dispensing data that contextualises how many patients are affected.
How We Collect Data
Our automated monitoring system checks official DHSC and NHS England publications twice daily (morning and evening UK time). When a new shortage notification is published, our system:
- Extracts the medicine name, affected formulations, shortage reason, expected resolution date, and recommended alternatives
- Cross-references against our existing database to track whether this is a new shortage or an update
- Categorises the shortage by therapeutic area and severity
- Publishes updated information to the relevant pages
- Triggers email alerts to subscribed users for that specific medicine
How We Write Content
Our editorial content (blog articles, guides, and category overviews) follows these standards:
- Evidence-based: All clinical claims are sourced from official NHS, NICE, or BNF guidance with inline citations.
- Patient-focused: Written for patients and carers, not healthcare professionals. Medical terminology is explained in plain English.
- Actionable: Every article includes practical steps — what to ask your GP, where to find alternatives, and your legal rights.
- Regularly reviewed: Content is reviewed against the latest official data. Pages display a “Last updated” date.
What We Don’t Do
- We do not provide medical advice. We present official information to help patients have informed conversations with their healthcare providers.
- We do not recommend specific pharmacies, brands, or suppliers.
- We do not publish unverified shortage reports from social media or forums.
- We do not encourage stockpiling or obtaining medications outside normal prescription channels.
Clinical Review
All editorial content on MediWatch UK is reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication and after significant updates.
All medicine information aligns with published BNF guidance and NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS) recommendations.
Our clinical review process ensures that:
- All medicine names, dosages, and formulations are accurate and current
- Alternative medication suggestions align with NICE and BNF guidelines
- Patient advice is safe, appropriate, and does not constitute medical advice
- Shortage severity assessments reflect the actual clinical impact on patients
Corrections & Updates
If you spot an error, please contact us. We investigate all reports and correct confirmed errors within 24 hours.
Advertising & Independence
MediWatch UK operates independently. We do not accept payments from pharmaceutical companies, pharmacy chains, or healthcare providers in exchange for editorial coverage.
Last reviewed: 29 March 2026