medicines shortages

I am impressed and very pleased for you. Wonderful.

In the Midlands, all the independent chemist's we used and OH worked with since the 70s and all been taken over by large chains. Not a single one remains, not one. Same in London where we were before., not a single one. Many have closed and disappeared altogether too.

We have two local independent pharmacies within 3 miles too Callistemom, Hampshire.

That means that village pharmacies can survive, including traditional family owned pharmacies- which have not all been bought by large chains, as in the UK.

We still have small, 'family-run' pharmacies here.
Perhaps it's different in Wales than the RUK.

I'm not sure but I think you are in England, Fleurpepper, not Wales or Scotland (although I'm not sure about Scotland).

And yes - in fact there are small local pharmacies over the border from here in England too. Perhaps we're the land that time forgot here.

If you read my posts- I have said very clearly that there is a world shortage, for a variety of reasons. Very clearly.

And then went on to say that exactly because there are shortages all over the world, including the EU- the difficulties with Brexit will make it much worse for the UK.

I have never said it is the fault of Brexit- but that Brexit will make the situation much worse for the UK, because of it, and explained why.

But do shoot the messenger and put your head in the sand- that is indeed your prerogative.

As for pharmacies closing in the UK as they can't make any profit, that is very true too. But again- head, sand - go for it.

In most countries in Europe, you can't buy paracetamol, aspirin, Voltarol, and lost of pharmaceutical produce sold over the counter in supermarkets in the UK. You have to buy from pharmacy, and of course it is more expensive than in UK supermarkets. That is a political decision to protect pharmacies- who cannot make a profit from selling prescription only medicines. That means that village pharmacies can survive, including traditional family owned pharmacies- which have not all been bought by large chains, as in the UK.

You'd have more success digging a hole in the North Sea than convincing the op that every woe in the uk isn't the fault of Brexit.

For certain medications it is not only the UK. My friend couldn’t get her eye medicine (France) . However, fortunately, I was able to buy it in Seville for her while I was on holiday.

I have just recalled why one of my heart meds wasn't available for months.
The pharmacist told me that they weren't being produced by the factory, to concentrate on producing other medication.
I was actually given a date, months ahead, when they would be available again.

Another reason is that some drug supplies were being directed to Covid ICU.
My biologic injections, which were usually delivered in batches of eight at a time, were being delivered two at a time.
It is only recently that the supplies are going back to normal.

There is not just one reason.

Oreo may not think pharmacies are on the brink of collapse, but they are in a worse state than I've ever known them. Every two months I collect two boxes of thirty anti-coagulant tablets, this time I was given six boxes of ten tablets. Presumably this is a supply issue. Last week DD needed eye drops for GS2 and had to visit half a dozen pharmacies before she found any. One of our local pharmacies has closed, the other one has huge queues and very bad tempered customers. I feel sorry for the poor souls working there. The closure meant that DS used one of the 24 hour delivery services for his meds. They turned up after 36 hours. Not ideal if they had been literally life saving. This is as close to collapse as I want to see it get.

Hetty58

Fleurpepper - longstanding supply, distribution and manufacturing difficulties are the cause - together with increased demand and overprescribing. Covid and the war in Ukraine haven't helped.

No mention of Brexit at all!

www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/02/why-is-world-experiencing-medicine-shortages-and-how-can-the-generics-industry-address-supply-challenges/

Hetty58 I see you had already posted that link, apologies.

But it is worth repeating, I hope.

MerylStreep

Fleurpepper
Have you forgotten that you started a thread on this in January.
A relative in New Zealand has the same problem.

There is a worldwide problem for various reasons.

www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/02/why-is-world-experiencing-medicine-shortages-and-how-can-the-generics-industry-address-supply-challenges/

Quote Fleurpepper Sat 15-Apr-23 15:22:35
Probably best to post in the relevant thread then

Well pardon me for expressing a polite interest

#sorrynotsorry

Fleurpepper

I can't help but ponder if the Tory government's "flexible labour force" policies which was meant to make it much easier for employers to hire the workers they needed, when they needed them, has in fact backfired?

If someone is working under the no-guaranteed hours contract with a company but is expected to be available when needed - that makes it quite difficult to take on another zero-hour contract with another employer who demands the same availability. I believe this is what prevents some people from taking on extra work - unless they can have guaranteed hours. And, if they have childcare duties to work around, that complicates things further. I think this has contributed to some of the problems in the workforce. I was talking to a 30-something chap the other day who needed more hours but the company he was working for couldn't offer them. Another company could - but as he said, sometimes both companies wanted him at the same time, or part of the same time, so in the end, he gave up on them and waited until he found another part-time job with regular hours. So that's another company that will be complaining that they 'can't get the staff' and we all suffer as a result.
Full-time, well-paid jobs that I remember from my working days - even as a 'temp', are fast disappearing.

Oreo

Dickens
Brexit threads are ok for the right reasons, this isn’t one of them.
This looks like scare tactics from somebody who constantly bangs the Brexit drum.
I’ve no intention of asking for no Brexit N&P threads, popular subjects will find an audience or won’t.
I notice it’s about 3 posters who continually blame everything but the weather on it 😄 not bad for a forum of possibly thousands I guess.

The suggestion of a "non-Brexit-N&P-Forum" was tongue in cheek. I wasn't seriously suggesting it nor did I think you'd seriously consider it!

Balancing out those that blame everything on Brexit are those that refuse to believe / accept that it's had any negative effect at all - on anything.

I fully accept that some problems have existed and become worse long before we left the EU and were not caused by us leaving the union. Equally, some of them have been badly impacted by Brexit. Not to mention the government's actual handling of the constitutional change itself.

Probably best to post in the relevant thread then.

As for medicines shortages, and pharmacies going to the wall:

Serious shortage protocols

Serious shortage protocols (SSPs) are issued in the UK when the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) makes the decision that there is a major shortage of a drug or medicine6. During an SSP, pharmacists can dispense alternative medicines without contacting the patient’s general practitioner first6.

As of the 17 January 2023 there were 16 drugs in total with currently issued SSPs by the DHSC7

Drugs with SSPs at this time in the UK are7:

Eight types of phenoxymethylpenicillin, an antibiotic used to treat infections, since December 2022
Two types of atorvastatin chewable tablets, used for treating high cholesterol, one since May and one since November 2022
Five types of oestradiol (including patches and gel sachets), a form of oestrogen, three since May 2022 and two since September/November 2022
Fluoxetine 10mg tablets, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), since March 2022

Phenoxymethylpenicillin is used to treat Streptococcus A (Strep A) and scarlet fever, of which there have been sharp rises of cases in the UK. According to UK government data, there were 4,622 notifications of scarlet fever in England from Week 37 to 46 this season (2022-2023), and 851 in Week 468. The average for the same period over the last 5 years is 1,2948. This increase in cases has led to an unexpected increased demand for phenoxymethylpenicillin and has resulted in drug shortages.
Local pharmacies left out of pocket

The effect of drug shortages isn’t as simple as not being able to provide patients with the right medicines at the right time. It is also affecting pharmacies. As many drugs are in short supply, the wholesale prices of drugs have risen, putting financial strain on community pharmacies- and this is made worse by Sterling low rates as 90% of drugs are bought in from abroad.

Pharmacists are not always able to receive timely advice for alternative medications from the NHS when shortages occur.
Drug supply and distribution

Not only increased demand, but also manufacturing issues, distribution problems, supply quotas or medicine pricing can be factors in drug shortages10. Due to Brexit, the UK’s reputation as a good place to do business has suffered and drug taxes are high1. A shortage of shipping containers is a problem globally, causing delays to imports and exports of drugs1. If medicines were prioritised over other products, such as clothing for example, this could potentially combat some of the delays1.

However, there are UK distribution problems, mainly due to a lack of workforce1. Delays in authorisation by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) also have a knock-on effect to drug supply.

Fleurpepper

She is doing so well, improvement every day- wonderful.

But I truly fail to see what she has to do with the issue re shortages of medicine.

Although the shortages are as relevant for veterinary medicines.

Nothing at all, just interested

Did you watch the interview I linked. Yes, there is a serious issue with pharmacies going to the wall- well explained in the video.

Pharmacies in England are not on the brink of collapse as you state on another thread.
Anecdotal but neither me or DP have had any probs at all, tho I know globally there are some with certain medications.
I think scare tactics is the right phrase.

Oreo 'Brexit threads are ok for the right reasons, this isn’t one of them.'

please, care to explain why not?

Scare tactics? Are you still on about 'Project Fear' nonsense?

Dickens you can discuss what you like, but the fact that I’d rather direct my effort towards the bodies that might make a difference doesn’t make me uninterested.

Dickens
Brexit threads are ok for the right reasons, this isn’t one of them.
This looks like scare tactics from somebody who constantly bangs the Brexit drum.
I’ve no intention of asking for no Brexit N&P threads, popular subjects will find an audience or won’t.
I notice it’s about 3 posters who continually blame everything but the weather on it 😄 not bad for a forum of possibly thousands I guess.

She is doing so well, improvement every day- wonderful.

But I truly fail to see what she has to do with the issue re shortages of medicine.

Although the shortages are as relevant for veterinary medicines.

My apologies I thought that last post was by FP - please ignore Dickens

Oh are you back in the UK at the moment then? I'd thought you were back home when Princesse was due to arrive.
How is she getting on?

Oreo

At it again Fleurpepper I see 😂 Brexit Brexit Brexit.

Austerity, Cost-of-Living hikes, Fuel Price hikes, Ukraine, Covid, NHS problems, social care problems, Brexit, Free-Trade agreements, etc, etc - all these things have an effect on our lives one way or another and to some degree or another.

Why should Brexit, among all of these, not be mentioned? Why should its perceived benefits / negatives not be discussed? It has had an effect on our economy, our politics, our constitution. The dynamics are different, the country operates differently prior to the way it did before leaving the EU.

Give me a logical and good reason why we shouldn't raise the issue - and why those both for and against cannot join in a debate about it.

I think it was a mistake. I have been affected personally - but I only talk about it when I think it's relevant. We have a group that meets regularly in the local pub to chew on political events both national and local, Brexiters don't raise their eyes heavenwards when the subject arises... they come up with, "ah, but have you considered xxx...", or "don't you think that xxx applies...". In other words, they're up for a discussion on it, because they're aware that the wheel's still in spin.

It's almost as if you think it's a topic that should be off limits. Maybe you could ask GN for a "non-Brexit-N&P-forum"

Yes I rely on essential meds. Yes I am aware of possible shortages though it hasn’t affected me yet. I am more worried about counterfeit drugs, which has been a global problem for years.

I don’t think discussing it in a chat forum will help. I take action elsewhere.