More and More pharmacies are struggling to stock many common medicines and are forced to pay steep prices for them.

Therefore patients are facing huge delays receiving their prescriptions including painkillers, anti-depressants and blood pressure medication.

According to the BBC the number of medicines in short supply has risen to 80, which is up from 45 in October.

Pharmacist, Graham Weidle, said this is only a third of the story.

He said: “Part of the problem that we’re all worried about is not getting a regular supply.

“The dispensary is only large enough to take a short amount of medication and others have run out and can’t supply their patients.”

With the looming ‘Brexit or no Brexit’ deal this has added more concerns and the government has advised pharmacies to stock up to six week’s worth of medicine in case of emergencies.