22
Mar 2019
NHS reports on Brexit link to unprecedented drug shortage
Medicine shortages are being experienced by hospitals across England due to “stock-piling and price pressure as the Brexit deadline approaches” according to NHS Providers.
The trade association reported that in the last six weeks, some trusts had experienced shortages of up to 160 different drugs, compared with between 25 and 30 drugs in normal times.
Chief executive of NHS Providers Saffron Cordery, reported that one trust in England had a shortage of 300 different drugs.
She went on to say “Trusts up and down the country are telling us that they have experienced a sharp spike in shortages of drugs in the past month.
“We cannot confirm with absolute certainty that it is Brexit but the timing and unprecedented nature of these shortages suggest a correlation with Brexit preparation.
“This most probably is the impact of a combination of stockpiling and price pressure as the Brexit deadline approaches. We have not seen a spike like this before.”
This warning comes after a meeting held earlier this week of NHS trust leaders across England, with hospital chiefs reporting on shortages of many different types of medicines, including those used to treat high blood pressure and cardiac problems.
A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care said “We have well established procedures to deal with any disruption to the supply chain and our plans to ensure patients can continue to receive the medicines they need, whatever the outcome of negotiations, are well advanced.”
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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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