The Epilepsy Society has recently spoken out about the 'steep rise' in UK patients experiencing difficulty in accessing seizure medication.
While issues may have been affected by Brexit, the society asserts that this has been a problem for over a decade, and one which has yet to be addressed.
The society has said that its “Helpline and enquiries desk [are] inundated with worried callers”, and the added anxiety and stress is exacerbating the risk of seizures in patients.
To tackle the problem, the society is calling on health secretary Matt Hancock to review the UK’s medicines supply chain and “get a better deal” for those with epilepsy and other chronic conditions.
“Without a consistent supply, a breakthrough seizure can occur, meaning that a person with epilepsy may lose their licence, lose their job and lose their quality of life," explained Epilepsy Society chief executive Clare Pelham. “Surely the least that we can do – government, charities and the pharmaceutical industry – is to work together to ensure that the supply of this essential medication is reliable every day, every week, and every month – year in and year out.”
The society have said they would be happy to work collaboratively to achieve consistent and reliable drug supplies for patients. “It is vital that clinicians have the most up to date information around any supply issues so that we can discuss these with our patients and forge a plan together,” said the Epilepsy Society’s medical director Ley Sander. “Fundamental to dealing with this issue is the need for transparent and honest communication.”
