WINCHESTER has a serious shortage of life-saving antibiotics, a GP has told the Chronicle.

The doctor said patients will die as a result of the lack of supplies of clarithromycin, a drug used to combat chest infections.

The GP, who asked not to be named, said other standard antibiotics were also in short supply such as penicillin V being used to treat the high number of Strep A infections, and amoxicillin.

"Some patients will die because they haven't got the antibiotics they need. Some will say they cannot get to see their GP and they will die," he warned.

"It is a major national problem that antibiotics are disappearing at a time of year when they are life-saving. We are in the early stages of another major National Health Service crisis like waits at A&E because of the shortage of beds in hospitals.

"The NHS is seizing up, like a car engine. This is something I never thought would happen."

He said he had also heard that some anti-psychotic drugs are similarly running low in this area.

In a letter to the Chronicle, the GP said: "I have been medically qualified for over 40 years. In that time I have never imagined that the NHS would be unable to provide a basic and possibly life-saving drug like clarithromycin. Many will not admit it but we are looking into the abyss where routine and life-saving drugs are no longer available."

The Chronicle has contacted the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board which referred the enquiry to the Department of Health and Social Care.

The department referred the Chronicle to a statement in the House of Commons on Monday.

Maria Caulfield, under-secretary of state, said: "The UK Health Security Agency has already declared a national enhanced incident to co-ordinate our public response. Increased demand has led to some temporary supply issues, but I reassure Members on both sides of the House that we have stock of antibiotics and have taken a number of steps to deal with some of the supply issues.

"First, we have worked at pace to help to ensure that there are supplies of vital medicines to meet the increased demand. Earlier this month, we convened roundtables with manufacturers of the preferred treatment, penicillin V, and with major UK wholesalers. We continue to work with manufacturers and wholesalers to boost supply to meet demand. The key issue is getting stock to pharmacies across the country. We have brought forward stock to make sure it gets to where it is needed, and we are expediting deliveries. Deliveries to wholesalers and pharmacies continues to be made, with more expected in the coming days and weeks.

"Secondly, we have issued eight serious shortage protocols to allow pharmacists to supply not only alternative forms of penicillin, but alternative antibiotics. This will make things easier for pharmacists, general practitioners and, of course, patients. We have also added a number of antibiotics to our list of medicines that cannot be exported or hoarded."

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board last week issued an urgent plea over pressures on all NHS services in Hampshire and Isle of Wight.

Almost every bed at hospitals across Hampshire and Isle of Wight is occupied by patients needing care.

The latest figures reveal more than 38,000 urgent appointments or attendances with GP practices, urgent treatment centres, minor injuries units and emergency departments were made in a recent week – an average of one every two seconds.

Patients with Strep A are adding to the burden.