45 MPs sign letter asking Health Secretary to end medication shortages

Forty-five MPs have joined the Epilepsy Society, Epilepsy Action and SUDEP Action in calling on Health Secretary Wes Streeting to end the misery endured by people with epilepsy as they struggle to get their medication.

Last month news broke of the death of 44-year-old David Crompton from Yorkshire who died after being given an IOU for his epilepsy medication from his pharmacy. The tragedy follows a year of ongoing medication shortages across the country that have left people with worsening symptoms.

The MPs’ letter was written before the death of David Crompton but lead signatory, Cat Smith MP said news of the tragedy added real urgency to their call for a review of the medicines supply chain.  “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.

“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.”

You can read the letter in full below.

Saving lives

Working alongside health charities, the Epilepsy Society, Epilepsy Action and SUDEP Action, the cross-party MPs are calling for an end to ongoing medication shortages. In their letter they say: “It is crucial that the cause for this shortfall and potential solutions are understood if we are to safeguard people’s health and ensure they have their life-saving medications.”

A survey by the charities and Parkinson’s UK of almost 1,500 people with epilepsy or Parkinson’s disease showed that 70% of respondents had experienced difficulties in getting vital medication, with 55% having to visit multiple pharmacies before getting their prescription fulfilled and 66% only being given a fraction of their medication due to limited supplies. Many reported a worsening of symptoms due to the shortages.

MPs warn crisis will worsen

The MPs told the Health Secretary: “There are 630,000 people in the UK with epilepsy. 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.”

Call for review of supply chain

The charities issued the following statement: “Over the last year we have been calling on the government to commission a review of the medicines supply chain and we have warned about the potential for breakthrough seizures caused by lack of medication, to be fatal. We hope the Health Secretary will now appreciate the urgency of addressing this situation before there is another fatality. The medicines supply chain is a complex and global issue but people must be assured of their life-saving medication and we stand ready to assist in finding a solution to this ongoing issue.”

How you can help our campaign

You can help our campaign to solve the issues around medication shortages by asking your MP to write to Health Minister Karin Smyth using the templated letter here.