The Liberal Democrats' analysis of the ONS's Health Insight Survey shows a further 269,000 adults did not take any further action after being unable to get a prescription dispensed at their usual pharmacy in the three-week period.

In total, an estimated three million people (13.5%) reported having an issue when using prescription services over the period. The data shows 426,000 people had to try multiple pharmacies to get their prescription, with 336,000 people waiting more than a week to resolve their problem in getting a prescription.

An estimated 853,000 people were left dissatisfied with the most recent NHS service they had received at a pharmacy between the 10 December and 1 January.

The Liberal Democrats have said the situation across the health service is ‘devastating' and called on the government to take steps to ensure that patients can access prescriptions when they need them and to protect pharmacies from closure.

Jess Brown-Fuller, Liberal Democrat hospitals and primary care spokesperson, said: ‘The Conservative Party's shameful neglect has punished patients in this way but the Labour government's total lack of urgency has been inexcusable. It is not good enough for the government to sit back and watch as people can't access the medicines they need.

‘The government must take steps to ensure that patients can access the medication they desperately need and struggling pharmacies can keep their doors open.'