Brexit fears for medicines

Sir, – Worries continue to grow for UK citizens who rely on single or multiple prescription drugs to sustain their quality of life.

In recent days we hear that Theresa May has refused to guarantee that the NHS, and therefore also the Scottish NHS, will have enough medicines in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Meanwhile the Conservative health secretary Matt Hancock has revealed that a plan for stockpiling medicines had been put out to tender, which could cost tens of millions of pounds. However, it is not known if there are storage facilities which have the capacity, the security and the right environmental controls to function as medical stores. Even if there are, Mr Hancock in August this year said that his department would guarantee an extra six weeks of supply by March 29 2019. Only six weeks.

Uncertainty over the continuation of supply is adding unnecessary stress to many in Perthshire like me who cannot have their medication interrupted by even one day without serious consequences.

Advice that I have had from one local pharmacy that there should be “minimal” disruption are of no comfort; we need guarantees of long-term uninterrupted supply.

Not one region of Scotland voted for Brexit. The Scottish Government has for the past two years offered solutions which would keep Scotland and the rest of the UK in the single market and customs union, so avoiding many negative consequences such as this. We can only hope that this current Conservative government will listen and change direction before it is too late. Dr Joe Toole. Cowden Road, Comrie.

Uncertainty over the continuation of supply is adding unnecessary stress to many like me who cannot have their medication interrupted by even one day without serious consequences