POLL FINDINGS
Thanks to those of you who participated in our poll about your current experiences of obtaining bile binder (bile acid sequestration) medications.
We thought it would be helpful to summarise the findings. Whilst it’s concerning that some people are experiencing significant problems and are without bile binders (3.3%), it is good to see that a higher proportion of you (12.1%) have been able to obtain bile binding medications.
15.4% (161) of our active membership (1046) have participated in the poll
7.1% (74) - are experiencing no problems
0.8% (8) have successfully obtained an alternative bile binder
4.2% (44) - are experiencing delays in obtaining regular prescriptions
3.3% (35) - are unable to obtain bile binders due to being unable to get GP / consultant to change to an alternative or alternative prescription not being available either
NHS SPECIALIST PHARMACY WEBSITE UPDATE
The SPS have advised that yesterday they have updated their website with the latest information on the stock availability of bile binders and revised memo for GP’s and Pharmacists. The memo advises that the manufacturing of Questran & Questran light is moving over to a new company.
Things you can do to help your pharmacist obtain your bile binding medications:
🔸plan ahead for ordering your regular prescription by ordering your repeat as soon as your GP practice allows (depending on the area you live in different CCGs there may be variations in number of days before your current prescription runs out (e.g. 7-14 days) and the frequency of ordering repeats (E.g. some area only allow repeats on a monthly basis others allow regular or scripting to be ordered on a 3 monthly basis)
🔸submit your prescription immediately to your pharmacy and explain the shortage situation to them
🔸if your pharmacist is not aware of the problem then share with them this link to the Specialist Pharmacy Services website for all latest updates / actions pharmacists and GP’s / Consultants need to consider / undertake
We will continue to liaise with the NHS Specialist Pharmacy Services and update you as soon as we can.
Should the current situation continue we will monitor it through the use of polls as we have found this an effective way to gauge a snap shot view of how it is affecting BAD patients.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/…/shortage-of-bile-acid-sequestrants/