LFT Supplies are “inconsistent” Following New Isolation Rules

Since a surge in demand for Covid 19 Lateral Flow Tests in December, pharmacies have struggled to cope with “inconsistent” supplies of LFT’s. During the Christmas period a lot of pharmacies chose to continue their services, however during this time they received no more LFT kits.

The new self-isolation rules require those who are infected to tests after the sixth and seventh day of self-isolation, this has understandably created an increase in demand LFT’s.

Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the AIMP (a membership organisation representing community pharmacies) commented that “Pharmacies are reporting that every five minutes, somebody comes into the pharmacy asking for a test.” However, “issues around supply means that those who come for the test don’t always get it, which is very stressful, not just for the pharmacy team but for the patient.”

Alastair Buxton, director of NHS services at the PSNC (Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee), explained that “The wholesaler which supplies the LFT kits to pharmacies, made its last deliveries on [24 December 2021]” These did not continue again until the 29th of December. “Many pharmacies were open over the Christmas break, but as deliveries of medicines and LFT kits would not be made during that period, it is likely that their supply of test kits will have been exhausted.”

Although problems regarding the distribution of LFT’s were flagged up at the start of December, concerns were not carried through because community pharmacies had “record numbers” of the kits at that time, according to the UK Health Security Agency.

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