Oral Answers to Questions

Douglas Chapman Excerpts

Tuesday 23rd July 2019 Commons Chamber

[John Mc Nally (Falkirk) (SNP)]

1. What steps he is taking to ensure access to drugs after the UK leaves the EU.

[Douglas Chapman (Dunfermline and West Fife) (SNP)]

6. What steps he is taking to ensure access to drugs after the UK leaves the EU.

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Matt Hancock)]

Our highest priority is for patients to continue to have access to medicines and medical products in all Brexit scenarios. As a responsible Government, we will minimise any disruption in our exit, deal or no deal.

On 26 June, we set out our approach to ensuring continuity of supply. I discussed this last week with the head of the NHS, and Professor Keith Willett wrote to all NHS trusts yesterday to advise on no-deal planning.

[Matt Hancock]

Yes, we secured the requirements ahead of a potential exit on 29 March, and we are doing the necessary work to ensure that capacity is available, whatever the Brexit scenario, on 31 October.

[Douglas Chapman]

My constituent Jonathan Fisher, known as the Bold Joff, has complex health needs due to a rare genetic condition called Lowe syndrome. He requires six regular medications, three of which come from the EU. They are all vital to his health, but one in particular, Epilim, is critical to his epilepsy care. What reassurances can the Secretary of State give to Jonathan and his mother, Fiona, that when we leave the EU there will be no disruption to his supply of this vital medication?