Health minister Wes Streeting has been urged by 45 MPs to call an urgent review into medicine shortages that is impacting the health and safety of patients.
The news comes on the back of the death David Compton, a 44-year-old man who fell and suffered a heart attack which has been linked to him not being able to get medication for epilepsy.
Midway Pharmacy in Pudsey, Leeds, left a “IOU” not for the drug Tegretol – it was the second time in a few months that they were unable to source the medication for Mr Compton.
A coroner said that without the medication, Mr Crompton's epileptic condition was likely to "destabilise and give rise to fits".
Cat Smith, Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre, wrote to Streeting and said the issue was a major cause for concern even before Mr Compton’s tragic death.
“Medication shortages have been a crucial issue over the last year and in our letter, we warned the Health Secretary that the shortages of epilepsy medications could result in fatal seizures,” she said.
“It is vital that the Health Secretary takes action now before there is another tragedy. One death is a death too many. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of David.”
Cat Smith, Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyrewww.pharmacy.biz
The MPs worked with Epilepsy Action, Epilepsy Society and SUDEP Action to put the letter together.
A survey by charities Parkinson’s UK, Epilepsy Action, Epilepsy Society and SUDEP Action of almost 1,500 people with Parkinson’s disease or epilepsy looked at difficulties accessing medication.
It showed that 70% of respondents had experienced difficulties in getting vital medication. Also, 55% said they had to visit multiple pharmacies before getting their prescription fulfilled and 66% only got a fraction of their medication due to limited supplies.
People also reported worsening symptoms of their conditions due to the shortages.
The MPs said in the letter: “As Members of Parliament, we all have constituents whose lives have been deeply, sometimes irreversibly, damaged by the shortage of medications they need to function and live.
“The delays experienced in getting their vital treatment have forced patients to go without their medication or switch to inadequate alternatives. Doing so places those with epilepsy at risk of sudden, sometimes fatal, seizures.
“If action is not taken to properly understand the crisis we face, and explore potential solutions, it will worsen. A review into the shortage of vital medications is urgently needed.”
A report by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) revealed that pharmacy teams are spending more time chasing medicines supplies, identifying and switching patients to alternative medicines, taking their time away from other clinical activities
Medicines shortages are also putting financial pressure on community pharmacy contractors.
Last month, the RPS submitted evidence to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on pharmacy inquiry into medicines shortages in England.
In its submission, the organisation has called on the government to develop a national strategy to address medicine shortages and change legislation to allow community pharmacists to amend prescriptions when medicines are in short supply.
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