David Slater, 72, has been living in fear since the aspirin shortage began three months ago. His heart medication has become increasingly difficult to find. "Every day without my medication feels like playing Russian roulette with my health," Slater said, explaining his doctor prescribed daily low-dose aspirin to prevent blood clots that could trigger a potentially fatal stroke or heart attack.

With empty pharmacy shelves becoming common, Slater is calling on health ministers to intervene urgently. The retired teacher has written to his MP and health officials, demanding they address what he describes as "a matter of life and death" for thousands of Britons. For vulnerable patients like Slater, who cannot switch medications without medical supervision, the situation has become desperate. "I just need the medication that keeps me alive," he insists.