Pharmacies have reported shortages in vital antibiotics used to treat children struck with Strep A.
It comes as the UK continues to be rocked by a surge in cases of Strep A with several cases of the potentially deadly invasive Strep A being reported among schoolchildren in recent weeks.
The latest death in Belfast takes the toll of children dying from an invasive version of the infection to nine.
The UK Health Security Agency has urged GPs to set a “low threshold” for providing antibiotics at the earliest signs of Strep A.
However pharmacists have said they have had to turn away some patients as they face supply issues with antibiotics such as clarithromycin, which is used for children and adults with a penicillin allergy and azithromycin, and another treatment for the killer infection.
Sri Kanaparthy, who runs a pharmacy in Durham, said he had been forced turn away two patients with prescriptions for clarithromycin.
He said: "Unless the Government start to acknowledge this shortage and work towards resolving it, we are sadly going to see more preventable deaths in the coming weeks.", reports The Sun.
Ashley Cohen, whose pharmacy is based in Yorkshire, argued the Government appears to be out of touch with the situation.
He said: "There may be antibiotics in some places in the UK...but if we're having to order stocks from far away it could take 2-3 days for stocks to arrive which is critical time lost if a patient requires the drugs now."
Health Secretary Steve Barclay has said there is no issue with the supply of antibiotics from manufacturers, though he admitted some GPs may have shortages while stock is moved around.
He told Sky News: “I checked with the team last night – we have an established team in the department that does this on a permanent basis – and they reassured me we have good supply.
“The medical suppliers are required to notify us if they’ve got shortages.
“Now, sometimes, GPs can have particular surges if they’ve got a lot of demand in an area, and that’s quite routine, we can move the stock around our depots."
The latest death in Belfast takes the toll of children dying from an invasive version of the infection to nine.
Strep A can normally be treated with antibiotics but symptoms, such as a fever and sore throat, can be mistaken for other viruses.
But experts fear a lack of immunity after Covid-19 lockdowns and social distancing could be to blame.
There are fears GPs and A&Es could be flooded with parents. They have been warned not to self diagnose and give children leftover antibiotics.
