NHS RUNNING OUT OF PARACETAMOL

Painkiller shortage sparks fears for op recovery patients

- NICOLA SMALL

HOSPITALS in England face critically low levels of paracetamol amid a national shortage of the painkiller.

Paracetamol injections are seen as the safest and most effective drug to give patients to relieve post-operative pain.

But staff at one hospital trust have been told to remove the drug from all anaesthetic rooms with immediate effect.

The shortage of intravenous (IV) paracetamol is expected to continue until at least November. A Department for Health and Social Care spokesman said it was due to "capacity constraints with a manufacturer".