Menopausal hormone therapy is available as transdermal patches for the management of symptoms of menopause and are particularly effective for disabling hot flushes and night sweats. One Thursday afternoon, a customer, Alex, enters the pharmacy with a new prescription for transdermal menopausal hormone therapy. The prescription is for a supply of one month of these patches with three repeats for Alex’s wife – a total of four months’ supply. Alex explains his wife, Donna, is immunocompromised and susceptible to lung disease and she does not want to leave the house during the pandemic. You check the prescription thoroughly and confirm the prescription is legal, appropriate, safe and effective for the management of Donna’s symptoms. Alex confirms Donna’s symptoms are severe and significantly disrupt her quality of life and her mood. Alex requests you to dispense the original supply PLUS all three repeats today - a total of four months’ supply. You check the stock and there are only four boxes on the shelf (four months’ supply). You are aware this medicine is in short supply from the manufacturer and new stock is not expected to be available for three to four months. You don’t want to be completely out of stock of these patches as you have two other patients who are stable on this medicine and require continuing therapy. Alex is very distressed as he says he must leave for work tomorrow and will not be returning for four months. There are no other brands of this medication available, so simple substitution is not an option.