Medicines and Uncertainty

By: A.C.

When I write for the blog I try very hard to keep a balance and just state facts about what affects our readers and AAD members in their daily lives. In all fairness I remain apolitical and try to just point out unfairness and difficulty.

The present turmoil and tribal politics at Westminster is overshadowing stories like the one at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary which affect the lives of those who are already waiting for investigation or awaiting therapy.

Last year this warning came from the Royal College of Radiologists, regarding the downgrading of Raigmore Hospital as a radiotherapy centre, due to the loss of its only interventionist radiologist.

The warnings given in the article were fairly stark.

“Having the radiology department without the consultant is like having a garage without mechanics and everybody turning up to have their cars mended – it can’t be done. So, what is going to happen? It’s lunacy.”

In England today (18/01/2019) Pharmacists are worried about the lack of medicines in the supply chain. This applies at the moment to common everyday medications like aspirin, anti-depressants , blood pressure or other necessary medicines that keep people from experiencing further ill-health.

Pharmacists say they are struggling to obtain many common medicines and paying “vastly increased” prices for them. This is leaving patients complaining of delays in getting hold of drugs such as painkillers, anti-depressants and blood pressure medication. The BBC has found there has been a big rise in the number of drugs on the “shortage of supply” list for England.

There are 80 medicines in such short supply that the Department of Health has agreed to pay a premium for them.”

There is no shortage of warnings from scientists, pharmacists, health professionals, NHS Boards warning of such difficulties last year.

“Medicinal insulin, used by millions of diabetes patients—including UK Prime Minister Theresa May—is not manufactured in the UK, nor is it easily stored, as it requires temperature-controlled conditions. The medicine is partly produced and packaged in the EU, and a disruption to the supply chain due to a no-deal Brexit “is one of the ways that patients could be severely disadvantaged,” Michael Rawlins, chair of the MHRA, told The Pharmaceutical Journal in July. “It could be a reality if we don’t get our act together. We can’t suddenly start manufacturing insulin—it’s got to be sorted, no question”

As many of us have seen the political shenanigans and the tribal baying of the various factions in the Brexit debate over the last few days, those who need medication, a health specialist, radiologist, or pharmaceuticals are getting more alarmed as what seems like childish idiotic tribal politics affect them or their loved ones.

If the medications to cure or extend one’s life are unavailable because of the factional fighting within Westminster, will cause disruption, or the brains who dispense the therapy have been made unwelcome or shy away from Scotland or the UK, and prefer to work elsewhere, then what can the public do?  It would seem that we are being reduced by this chaos to a second world country.

Our Politicians have a duty to protect those they serve, and not engage in cat-fighting which has escalated to a National Crisis leading to the army being on standby to “assist as the Guardian points out.

“Speaking later in the Commons, the defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, said his department “will have 3,500 service personnel held at readiness, including regulars and reserves, in order to support any government department on any contingencies they may need”.

Of course the Army could be there to assist the already stripped back Police in any riots occurring from political anger due to Brexit occurring – or not occurring.

 This Parliamentary Order is sparse on detail, but at the same time is warning of expected chaos. Why else would they call up reservists?

Meanwhile, people, will have life changing disease, injuries, and accidents and as has been happening for thousands of years, life will go on as usual, except that at this time, the expertise, medicines, treatment or therapy and even carer assistance may well be diminished or in short supply due the present chaos and uncertainty.

Politicians do not seem sure what they want and seem to enjoy the schoolboy points scoring in this National Crisis.

I would suggest ordinary folk awaiting hospital treatment, or depending on our hospitals or pharmacists to remain pain free; receive specialist therapy or treatment in order to have some semblance of life, probably do not care about ideologies.

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