Latest news with #Pert
North Wales Live
4 days ago
- Health
- North Wales Live
Cancer patients hit by key drug shortage
Patients battling cancer are facing severe difficulties due to a dire lack of the essential medication Creon which over 60,000 UK patients rely on. The shortage has prompted some people to only eat once a day as they ration their supplies, according to warnings from pharmacists. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said those suffering from pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis, and chronic pancreatitis are affected by this shortage and some are travelling over 30 miles in desperate search of the medication. Creon serves as a vital pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (Pert) that helps patients properly digest food and absorb its nutrients. Recent data from an NPA survey of 300 pharmacies revealed a startling 96% are experiencing issues stocking Creon, with 89% also saying they've struggled to provide alternative Pert treatments. Patient hardships reported include cases where individuals have resorted to consuming only one meal a day to make their supply of Creon last longer, as well as people going without medication or travelling across multiple pharmacies to find some. A pharmacist has expressed their concern, labelling this the "worst stock shortage" ever encountered in their profession. In response, the Government has decided to extend the serious shortage protocols (SSP) for Creon up until November. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here. These rules allow pharmacists to dispense a smaller number of available Creon capsules without requiring patients to go back to their GP for a renewed prescription. The NPA survey also discovered that a significant 81% of pharmacies believe the current procedures for managing the shortage of Creon fall short of what is needed. The study revealed that pharmacists are still having to redirect patients back for new prescriptions for an alternative Pert product, or an unlicensed Creon product. Olivier Picard, chairman of the NPA, said: "Pharmacies are at the sharp end of medicine shortages, spending hours hunting stock and supporting frustrated and concerned patients. "It simply cannot be right that in the 21st century patients are skipping meals in order to ration their medication. "Although we recognise this situation is complex and not the fault of the Government, it's important they convene a taskforce and a national action plan to tackle this particular shortage given its impact on patients. Alfie Bailey-Bearfield, head of influencing and health improvement at Pancreatic Cancer UK, added: "Thousands of people affected by pancreatic cancer rely on taking Pert tablets every time they eat simply to digest their food and absorb nutrients – something most of us take for granted. "It's totally unacceptable that they are still taking desperate measures which puts their health, wellbeing and their eligibility for treatment at risk. "For over a year, we have been raising concerns with Department of Health and Social Care officials and Pert suppliers, urging them to prioritise solutions that reduce the impact on patients. "But despite these conversations, progress has been far too slow and patients continue to pay the price. The situation is unacceptable and it demands immediate action." A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "We know how frustrating and distressing medicine supply issues can be for patients and the clinicians caring for them. "The European-wide supply issues with Creon are caused by a limited availability of raw ingredients and manufacturing capacity constraints. We are working closely with industry and the NHS to mitigate the impact on patients and resolve the issues as quickly as possible."
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Cancer patients hit by key drug shortage
Cancer patients hit by key drug shortage Some patients are travelling more than 30 miles to get hold of Creon Creon helps patients to properly digest food (Image: Getty Images ) Patients battling cancer are facing severe difficulties due to a dire lack of the essential medication Creon which over 60,000 UK patients rely on. The shortage has prompted some people to only eat once a day as they ration their supplies, according to warnings from pharmacists. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said those suffering from pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis, and chronic pancreatitis are affected by this shortage and some are travelling over 30 miles in desperate search of the medication. Creon serves as a vital pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (Pert) that helps patients properly digest food and absorb its nutrients. Recent data from an NPA survey of 300 pharmacies revealed a startling 96% are experiencing issues stocking Creon, with 89% also saying they've struggled to provide alternative Pert treatments. Patient hardships reported include cases where individuals have resorted to consuming only one meal a day to make their supply of Creon last longer, as well as people going without medication or travelling across multiple pharmacies to find some. A pharmacist has expressed their concern, labelling this the "worst stock shortage" ever encountered in their profession. Article continues below In response, the Government has decided to extend the serious shortage protocols (SSP) for Creon up until November. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here . These rules allow pharmacists to dispense a smaller number of available Creon capsules without requiring patients to go back to their GP for a renewed prescription. The NPA survey also discovered that a significant 81% of pharmacies believe the current procedures for managing the shortage of Creon fall short of what is needed. The study revealed that pharmacists are still having to redirect patients back for new prescriptions for an alternative Pert product, or an unlicensed Creon product. Olivier Picard, chairman of the NPA, said: "Pharmacies are at the sharp end of medicine shortages, spending hours hunting stock and supporting frustrated and concerned patients. "It simply cannot be right that in the 21st century patients are skipping meals in order to ration their medication. "Although we recognise this situation is complex and not the fault of the Government, it's important they convene a taskforce and a national action plan to tackle this particular shortage given its impact on patients. Alfie Bailey-Bearfield, head of influencing and health improvement at Pancreatic Cancer UK, added: "Thousands of people affected by pancreatic cancer rely on taking Pert tablets every time they eat simply to digest their food and absorb nutrients – something most of us take for granted. "It's totally unacceptable that they are still taking desperate measures which puts their health, wellbeing and their eligibility for treatment at risk. "For over a year, we have been raising concerns with Department of Health and Social Care officials and Pert suppliers, urging them to prioritise solutions that reduce the impact on patients. "But despite these conversations, progress has been far too slow and patients continue to pay the price. The situation is unacceptable and it demands immediate action." A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "We know how frustrating and distressing medicine supply issues can be for patients and the clinicians caring for them. Article continues below "The European-wide supply issues with Creon are caused by a limited availability of raw ingredients and manufacturing capacity constraints. We are working closely with industry and the NHS to mitigate the impact on patients and resolve the issues as quickly as possible."
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'Worst ever' drug shortage leaves cancer patients unable to eat
Shortages of Creon, which replaces a key enzyme needed to digest food, means patients with pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis and chronic pancreatitis are rationing meals Thousands of cancer and cystic fibrosis patients are being hit by a critical shortage of a key drug they need to help them digest food. Pharmacists are warning some patients are only eating once a day to ration supplies of the drug Creon. Patients with chronic pancreatitis are also among around 60,000 people who rely on the drug which replaces a key enzyme in what one pharmacist called the "worst stock shortage" they have ever had to deal with. The National Pharmacy Association surveyed 300 pharmacies and found 96% were having trouble supplying Creon, which is subject to the Government's serious shortage protocols (SSP). Creon is a pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (Pert) which helps people digest food and absorb its nutrients. A Europe-wide problem in getting hold of stocks is being caused by a shortage of its raw ingredients. Patients like Harriet Corr, 9, from Hebburn, Tyneside, who suffers from Cystic fibrosis are being advised to basically cut back on their calories to reduce the amount of Creon tablets they need. People with CF struggle as it is to keep weight on so this can be dangerous. Speaking last year, her mum Emma Corr told the Express: Emma, of Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, told the Daily Express: "Harriet needs about 10-15 Creon tablets every day and usually it's never a problem getting any. But people increasingly seen unable to source Creon anywhere. It's becoming a full blown crisis. We're now unable to find it either. "We've been scouring our house to see if we've left any pots of Creon lying about - that's how desperate we're getting. Not only does Creon help Harriet absorb the nutrients and fats in her food but it enables her CF drug Kaftrio to work properly too. If we have to reduce the fats in her diet not only will she lose weight but it could mean her Kaftrio does not fully work either." The NPA survey heard examples of patients in distress such as those eating one meal a day to ration their Creon, going without medication or travelling long distances and contacting numerous pharmacies in an attempt to find stock. The NPA said some are travelling more than 30 miles to get hold of a pack of the drug. Some 89% of pharmacies also reported difficulties in supplying Pert alternatives. Olivier Picard, chairman of the NPA, said: "Pharmacies are at the sharp end of medicine shortages, spending hours hunting stock and supporting frustrated and concerned patients. "As this distressing survey shows ongoing supply problems with Creon has had a profound effect on the patients who depend on it to survive and lead a normal life. It simply cannot be right that in the 21st century patients are skipping meals in order to ration their medication.' Alfie Bailey-Bearfield, head of influencing and health improvement at Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: "These deeply worrying findings echo the distress and frustration we are hearing from patients and their loved ones across the UK. "Thousands of people affected by pancreatic cancer rely on taking Pert tablets every time they eat simply to digest their food and absorb nutrients - something most of us take for granted. It's totally unacceptable that they are still taking desperate measures which puts their health, wellbeing and their eligibility for treatment at risk.' The Government has extended the current serious shortage protocols (SSP) in place for Creon until November. This allows pharmacists to supply a reduced quantity of Creon capsules that might be in stock, without having to send a patient back to their GP for a new prescription. The NPA survey also found that 81% of pharmacies felt the current arrangements for managing shortages of Creon were inadequate. It found pharmacists are still having to refer patients back for new prescriptions for an alternative Pert product, stock permitting, or an unlicensed Creon product. Olivier Picard, of the NPA, added: "Although we recognise this situation is complex and not the fault of the Government, it's important they convene a taskforce and a national action plan to tackle this particular shortage given its impact on patients. "Medicine shortages are all too common so highly trained pharmacists should also be permitted to use their professional judgment to supply alternative medicines - where it is safe and appropriate - in the event of the prescribed version being unavailable." Alfie Bailey-Bearfield, of Pancreatic Cancer UK, added: "For over a year, we have been raising concerns with Department of Health and Social Care officials and Pert suppliers, urging them to prioritise solutions that reduce the impact on patients. But despite these conversations, progress has been far too slow and patients continue to pay the price. "It is critical that they take immediate, decisive action and explore every available option to increase supply, including directly purchasing this vital medication from countries with a surplus. This crisis continues to put people's health on the line, and they cannot afford to wait any longer. The situation is unacceptable and it demands immediate action." A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: "We know how frustrating and distressing medicine supply issues can be for patients and the clinicians caring for them. "The European-wide supply issues with Creon are caused by a limited availability of raw ingredients and manufacturing capacity constraints. We are working closely with industry and the NHS to mitigate the impact on patients and resolve the issues as quickly as possible."
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Cancer patients unable to get key drug in 'worst shortage ever'
Cancer patients unable to get key drug in 'worst shortage ever' The drug is used by more than 60,000 people with cancer, cystic fibrosis and other chronic conditions Empty shelves in a pharmacy Cancer patients are being hit by a critical shortage of a key drug, while some people are only eating once a day to ration supplies, pharmacists have warned. The ongoing shortage of Creon, which is needed by patients with pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis and chronic pancreatitis, means some are also travelling more than 30 miles to get hold of supply, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said. Creon is a pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (Pert) which helps people digest food and absorb its nutrients. It is thought more than 60,000 patients in the UK need Creon. An NPA survey of 300 pharmacies found 96% were having trouble supplying Creon, with 89% also reporting difficulties in supplying Pert alternatives. Examples of patients in distress included those eating one meal a day to ration their Creon, people going without medication or travelling long distances and contacting numerous pharmacies in an attempt to find stock. One pharmacist said this was the 'worst stock shortage' they have ever had to deal with. The Government has extended the current serious shortage protocols (SSP) in place for Creon until November. This allows pharmacists to supply a reduced quantity of Creon capsules that might be in stock, without having to send a patient back to their GP for a new prescription. The NPA survey also found that 81% of pharmacies felt the current arrangements for managing shortages of Creon were inadequate. It found pharmacists are still having to refer patients back for new prescriptions for an alternative Pert product, stock permitting, or an unlicensed Creon product. Olivier Picard, chairman of the NPA, said: 'Pharmacies are at the sharp end of medicine shortages, spending hours hunting stock and supporting frustrated and concerned patients. 'As this distressing survey shows ongoing supply problems with Creon has had a profound effect on the patients who depend on it to survive and lead a normal life. It simply cannot be right that in the 21st century patients are skipping meals in order to ration their medication. 'Medicine shortages not only cause huge inconvenience but can risk serious patient safety issues, particular in the cases of Perts including Creon. Although we recognise this situation is complex and not the fault of the Government, it's important they convene a taskforce and a national action plan to tackle this particular shortage given its impact on patients. 'Medicine shortages are all too common so highly trained pharmacists should also be permitted to use their professional judgment to supply alternative medicines – where it is safe and appropriate – in the event of the prescribed version being unavailable.' Alfie Bailey-Bearfield, head of influencing and health improvement at Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: 'These deeply worrying findings echo the distress and frustration we are hearing from patients and their loved ones across the UK. Thousands of people affected by pancreatic cancer rely on taking Pert tablets every time they eat simply to digest their food and absorb nutrients – something most of us take for granted. 'It's totally unacceptable that they are still taking desperate measures which puts their health, wellbeing and their eligibility for treatment at risk. For over a year, we have been raising concerns with Department of Health and Social Care officials and Pert suppliers, urging them to prioritise solutions that reduce the impact on patients. 'But despite these conversations, progress has been far too slow and patients continue to pay the price. Resolving the shortages demands strong, national leadership from the UK Government. It is critical that they take immediate, decisive action and explore every available option to increase supply, including directly purchasing this vital medication from countries with a surplus. Article continues below 'This crisis continues to put people's health on the line, and they cannot afford to wait any longer. The situation is unacceptable and it demands immediate action.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'We know how frustrating and distressing medicine supply issues can be for patients and the clinicians caring for them. The European-wide supply issues with Creon are caused by a limited availability of raw ingredients and manufacturing capacity constraints. 'We are working closely with industry and the NHS to mitigate the impact on patients and resolve the issues as quickly as possible.'
7NEWS
28-04-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Melbourne set to hire Victorian business chief Paul Guerra as new CEO to replace Gary Pert
Melbourne are set to hire Victorian business chief Paul Guerra as their new CEO, six months Gary Pert announced his resignation. According to The Agenda Setters' Caroline Wilson, Guerra will cross to the Demons from the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a major Victorian business advocacy organisation, where he is its current chief executive. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Caroline Wilson reveals Melbourne's new CEO. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today His impressive portfolio of experience also includes a stint as CEO of the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, as well as managing director and chairman-level roles across Asia Pacific in several different industries. Breaking the story on 7NEWS, Wilson said the Melbourne board was still meeting to make the final call. 'The Melbourne board is still meeting as we speak, but my prediction is that an outsider in the role, Paul Guerra, the CEO of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, is the frontrunner in the board meeting,' she said. 'Alistair Nicholson presented very well, the former Melbourne player who now runs the Coaches' Association, but my tip is that Paul Guerra will win the role, an Essendon man who will change his colours.' Guerra is set to win the role ahead of a pair of names more well-known to footy circles. 'The AFL and other people in the footy industry were quite keen on Keith Thomas, the former Port Adelaide CEO and Norwood player, who did a great job at the Port Adelaide Football Club — he stepped down from that role in 2020,' Wilson added. 'My understand is that, controversially, some positions, political positions, involving war in the middle-east that appeared on Keith Thomas's social media meant that he had to withdraw from the candidacy. 'I think it's a great pity because many people thought he would be a great candidate, but Melbourne were spooked, and so he's no longer in the running.' Stream full episodes of The Agenda setters live, free and on-demand at 7plus It's been a long time coming for the Demons, who have been led by interim CEO David Chippindall since Pert's departure in January. Pert's decision, which was made in October, also came less than two months after Kate Roffey stood down as president, the pair departing just three years after leading the club to the 2021 premiership. Speaking at the time, interim president Brad Green — who remains in the temporary seat now — said it he felt 'mixed emotions' that Pert would retire. 'After careful consideration of what is best for the club, his family, and his own future, Gary concluded that now is the right time to initiate the search for his successor,' Green said in a club statement last October. 'I want to make it absolutely clear that this decision, including its timing, is Gary's own.' Pert, an ex-Collingwood CEO, had positioned himself as the only man to deliver Melbourne's Caulfield development and has accepted a consulting role for the remainder of the project. His resignation as chief executive came after a review into the club's operations was handed to the board. Pert was also involved in trade negotiations at the end of last season, reportedly contacting other clubs to gauge their interest in Clayton Oliver before the star midfielder ultimately stayed.
