HEALTHWATCH: Are you stockpiling medication due to Brexit?

Do you take medication regularly to manage a condition that you have? Do you have items on repeat prescription?

We all assume that we will be able to get the treatment that we need when we need it, but what would it mean if your medication was unavailable?

As I write this column a week in advance of publication anything with regards Brexit could have happened over the preceding days.

However, the current talk is about the availability of medication in the future. People are thought to be stockpiling medication. Hoarding medication is never recommended as prescriptions can change and the things you have at home can never be reused, thus is wasted.

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP), urged the government to be more “transparent about national stockpiles, particularly for things that are already in short supply or need refrigeration, such as insulin”.

Prof Andrew Goddard, the RCP president, said: “Faith in the system will be created by openness and regular updates to trusts and clinicians; this will allow clinicians to reassure patients.”

HEALTHWATCH: Does the NHS have enough staff?

HEALTHWATCH: Have you heard of the Integrated Care System?

If there is not a solid plan as part of a no deal Brexit, for mangling supply of medications there could well be shortages. Trying to increase manufacturing supply in the UK would take considerable time. As part of their ‘no-deal Brexit planning’ the Department of Health and Social Care conducted a rapid turnaround closed consultation on introducing new serious shortage protocols for pharmacy services and on proposed changes to the Human Medications Regulations of 2012.

A motion went before parliament last week meaning the government can introduce new serious shortage protocols in any event (not just in the event of a no-deal Brexit) that supply of medicines is restricted.

If ever implemented the protocols will enable pharmacists in the UK take any of the following options without consulting the prescriber if they do not have sufficient medicine supplies:

Dispense an alternative quantity of the medication
Dispense an alternative form of the medication
Dispense an alternative strength of the medication or
Dispense a therapeutic or generic equivalent.

On the amendments to the Human Medications Regulation, this is EU legislation that in its current form will not be amendable in the event of a no-deal Brexit. For this reason the government is amending the legislation now, so that it will be able to alter again in the future, if the need arises.

We must remember that medication is crucial for the health and well-being of our population, especially the most vulnerable citizens of our society.

Without timely access more pressure will be placed on hospitals through patients having crises due to lack of medication. If you are worried talk to your pharmacist, they will be able to help you manage your condition in the best possible way.