Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they are providing to (1) UK residents, and (2) medical organisations about how to access medicines from the EU in the UK.

It is a priority of the Department to ensure patients continue to have access to medicines as we leave the European Union, in all exit scenarios.

While a Withdrawal Agreement has been agreed between Government and the European Commission, as a responsible Government, we continue to prepare proportionately for all scenarios, including the outcome that we leave the European Union without a deal in March 2019.

The Department has issued guidance on 7 December 2018 to all National Health Service trusts, pharmacies and general practices informing them of our plans for ensuring continuity of supply of medicines and advising them that they can expect to be able to continue accessing medicines through their existing supply routes in the event of a ‘no deal’ EU exit on 29 March 2019. This guidance explained how hospitals, general practitioners and community pharmacies throughout the UK do not need to take any steps to stockpile additional medicines, beyond their business as usual stock levels. There is also no need for clinicians to write longer NHS prescriptions. A copy of the Department’s letter of 7 December to the NHS in England is attached.

NHS England and the devolved administrations have also communicated similar messages to the front line and patients have also been advised not to stockpile medicines. Unnecessary local stockpiling would increase pressure on the medicines supply chain and could lead to avoidable shortages and subsequent risks to patients.