Insulin supplies

[Somewhereovertheroad]

No insulin is made in the UK. A no deal Brexit threatens the supply of insulin according to Medicines Regulator Sir Michael Rawlings.

I really despair about where all of this is going to end up.

Presumably planning will be put in place but they would need to stop messing and sort themselves out.

Novorapid = Novo Nordisk = Denmark/France.

they cannot sell US-produced products in the UK unless there is a certification system and process in place - the UK is withdrawing from the EU certification system with nothing in place to replace it.

^^This...exactly this. The MHRA process takes so long to get regulation in place and as far as I know they have no plans in place.

The only possible solution is for UK to go cap in hand to EU requesting an extension or very long transition period.

stressed or we could cancel the whole thing?

It's not just insulin though is it?

Like I said, my pump supplies get shipped from Europe (I'm about to start on the omnipod and I expect that will be the same).
And then there is the blood testing strips. And I have come to rely on libre sensors (self funded).

These are all necessities! I'm a single mum to 2 young DC (one of whom is about to start growth hormone. That's another drug that will be effected I'm sure).

The v few leavers that I personally know have gone v quiet on the subject recently

Hazardswan I think at this stage it's such a mess that there would be no winners either way.

I think it will be a long transition period and we will pay handsomely for it in more ways than one probably.

I really think the Genie is out of the bottle and I don't see an easy solution.

user if your on twitter tweet the dude and see how thorough he's being (sorry I would have done it already but not on twitter...that may have to change.)

stressed that's not reassuring....

i use novo rapid and lantus and my last boxes had french wrighting covered by a label in english

hazard I've read his tweet and the article. Now thoroughly depressed.

Surely they won't let people die?! I mean, there are millions of us!

user this is why I've been pulling my hair out! I'm not a very political person but once you get even half a clue about the risk to everyone with a disability/illness its just it needs to be sorted out or completely stopped.

Keep yourself informed. Have you got the option to pay for insulin, pumps etc if need be? Can family help you out? I'm aiming for having a plan then several backups. Can't trust this lot. Keep talking to or at people everyone needs to understand the risks.

Pretty sure you can't buy insulin. I suspect I'd be able to pay for pump supplies. But tbh, a bit like the libre sensors, NHS would get priority anyway.

I must order some insulin. I need to get more organised as I always let it run down low. Plus new surgery only lets me have 4 vials at a time

I think the work around would be private presciptions and on line GPs. Or flying out the country and bringing meds back. I'm assuming that's what the independent reporter is going to be writing about anyway. One of DP's meds is privately prescribed long story and for some reason it's more expensive for the NHS then for us as indivduals.

Once the technical notices are realised we'll have more info. Drs might be given the go ahead to write longer prescriptions or something!

Good idea to stock up if you can.

And if there is a problem with supply it can't last forever.

You can buy Insulin but that's not really the problem. The problem is that it wouldn't be available.

Pharmacies wouldn't be able to fill prescriptions either private or NHS.

We don't need online GP's it's not that the GP's won't write the prescriptions it's more that we won't have the stock to fill them! Unless of course something changes which it will have too!

Sorry that of course should be you can't buy insulin.

Perhaps not at your local pharmacy but sent via the postal service from abroad? I dunno I'm purely speculating and sending vibes for the independent man to hurry up and tell us. as well as sending vibes out for canceling brexit obviously

Perhaps not at your local pharmacy but sent via the postal service from abroad?

Not legally, and not with any guarantees of the quality or of the integrity of the cold chain.

Insulin is rapidly denatured by heat.

Hmmm it must be flying out is the plan then. Well that sucks.

Just signed up for twitter...had an account years ago and have no idea how it works these days.

Normally I would be of the opinion it will be alright in the end but this has just been such an absolute mess I can't see what they are going pull out of the bag. But they will have too and soon but they are too stupid to see it yet!

Hmmm it must be flying out is the plan then. Well that sucks.

Flying out isn't a very comforting plan B. People need a plan C.

1. Relinquishing EU membership entails leaving the european aviation safety agreement, Last I heard in May the govt were advertising a £70k job for a civil servant to try and handle the aviation aspects of the EU exit negotiations. The job ad said aviation experience was not essential.

1. The head of the UK aerospace industry's trade body warned that a no-deal Brexit will ground all aircraft made with UK-made parts. The U.K. aviation industry tried to circumvent the U.K. government and tried to meet directly with EU representatives but ( rightly) the EU representatives said the U.K. government needed to be involved.

1. The civil aviation authority need to fund, recruit and train thousands of staff, I think they were advertising.

1. Heathrow has borrowed enough money to fund a two month shut down but no one knows if that is long enough.

If the increasingly likely no deal is the reckless result then flying out to get insulin is not an option.Leaving for several months? Years ? Seems to be the safest option for those dependent on medication.

obiterj.blogspot.com/2018/07/brexit-and-civil-aviation-irish.html?m=1

www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/uk-seeks-negotiator-to-handle-brexit-aviation-talks-449628/

Stressed I couldn’t agree more. I don’t know anyone who actually knows anything about medicines legislation and supply chains that thinks No Deal could be anything other than a disaster. The MHRA’s public pronouncements are unconvincing, and have an air of hostage video about them.

I’m sure it would be possible to purchase something labelled as insulin and some things in a pot labelled test strips via the internet, but the likelihood of patients coming to harm from doing so is high.

The James moore article suggests his options are more than dodgey websites. You can get hold of legit meds (particularly if you have a relative or friend in America or canada) but it's more an issue of at what price. (Opiod based painkillers might face more legal issues just as a btw)

lonely thanks for expanding on that clearly! My plan is to have muliple and endless plans. Can i ask a question? Realistically how could people leave the country for months on end assuming they don't have a second passport or nationality?

Can I ask a question? Realistically how could people leave the country for months on end assuming they don't have a second passport or nationality?

I agree multiple and endless plans seem essential, but what about the elderly perhaps with dementia who are reliant on medicine and supply chains? They can't plan at all.

As for how long anyone can leave for, that is an overwhelming question.I guess it depends upon where you go, what skills and how much money you have. Canada, New Zealand seem popular as does Ireland although as the latter is EU see the final links below....

These seem the popular places:

www.movehub.com/blog/top-10-countries-brits-choose/

smallbusiness.co.uk/one-year-brexit-countries-expats-2543316/

From 30 March 2019 to 31 December 2020 the gov says that UK nationals can still move to another EU Member State. But what happens after that isn't completely clear, we can probably apply for residence status until June 2021.Bt what happens after 31 December 2020 will depend on the outcome of the final deal if any.

eu guide to residence:
ec.europa.eu/unitedkingdom/services/your-rights/Brexit_en

Uk info:
www.gov.uk/guidance/advice-for-british-nationals-travelling-and-living-in-europe

(Still incredulous that we are in this position. Sticking our fingers up at the most valuable trading agreement ever ,and for what?Oh yes to take back control of 0.7% of GDP and to avoid food and goods regulations that we had agreed to and made jointly anyway.)

Thank you so much lonely that's incredibly helpful info!

My DP can't fly (complex medical needs no airline will touch him) but may be able to travel by car/ferry. We're not rich but I'm stubborn and love my partner and want us to be healthy as possible not die

Will read up.

Plan a is still to stop the madness, havent given up yet but my back up plans are getting longer!

Someone mentioned going abroad and buying insulin and then bringing it back. That won't be legal under no deal. All the laws and agreements that allow medication to be imported from the EU will be gone, and that will apply to personal import as well as commercial.