Concerns about the supply of medicines in the case of a no-deal-Brexit led me email the pharmacist at our hospital. I got a reply, that while understandable, was about as helpful as an itchy arse when you suspect the kids might have worms;
An evening dose of meds.
‘Unfortunately we would not supply above and beyond normal supplies of medicines. If we started to do that, then the current supply chain would fall down quite quickly before we get to Brexit. NHS England are monitoring the current situation to ensure additional supplies are not being made and stockpiles are not being held. The Department of Health / NHS England are working up strategies for supply of medicines in the event of a no deal Brexit’.
Weekly tablet organiser (add on inhalers, nasal sprays, nebuliser and IV drugs).
According to a recent white paper published by the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, 73 per cent of pharmaceutical imports in the UK come from the EU. This equates to around 37 million packets of medicines every month from the EUworth £18.3 billion.
This is SCARY shit.
Now, there are some medications people with CF could manage without short-term (the high dose vitamins which they cannot absorb from their diets as healthy people can, the slow release sodium maybe, the acid inhibitors at a push?)
But the Creon (enzyme replacement therapy, which allows the breakdown of fats and proteins which cannot otherwise be absorbed, of which he takes 15-30 a day, and would have agonising tummy aches and no weight gain/growth without) the oral, nebulised and IV antibiotics, the anti-fungals (in Isaac’s case right now, very important) and the steroids....being without these, even for a short time, could be catastrophic.
Scarier still, delay to flu vaccines (due around the time of Brexit and which have a super short shelf-life), have already been indicated as a nationwide crisis waiting to happen this year, likely to kill thousands at high risk. Not to mention the risk to diabetics and others with chronic illnesses or cancer.
Our dry meds cupboard. We have a whole shelf in the fridge too.
Anyway, there is enough catastrophising already (not only in my own head) - what we need now are answers and assurances that our most vulnerable in society will be protected. Assurances that we can actually believe in. Where is that???
