Patients urged to contact HSE helpline

Patients on state drug schemes are being advised to contact the HSE helpline as further disruption to services is expected in the coming days.

Several hundred pharmacists have stopped dispensing medication under the community drug schemes in response to cuts to their fees - which they say is threatening their livelihoods.

The HSE said more than 1,100 pharmacies are still dispensing medicine as part of the schemes.

However, the Irish Pharmacy Union disputes this figure and said there is been widespread disruption to patients as HSE contingency plans are failing to cope with demand.

The HSE helpline can be contacted at 1850-241-850.