Scots told not to stockpile drugs ahead of Brexit, but to trust the preparations
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has urged people not to individually stockpile drugs ahead of Brexit as she said Scotland’s NHS was “as prepared as it can be” for the impact of leaving the EU.
The UK Government’s Operation Yellowhammer document warns of shortages of medicine and medical supplies in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
On a visit to NHS Scotland’s national distribution centre, where supplies have been stockpiled, Ms Freeman said preparations were “well advanced” and people who rely on drugs or medical equipment should be “reassured”.
The centre holds around 9,500 items for use in the NHS such as IV fluids, medical gloves, bandages, swabs and oxygen tubes.
NHS National Services Scotland procurement director Jim Miller said up to eight weeks’ extra supply of some medical products had been stockpiled, costing around £5 million.
Ms Freeman said: “I’ve got up to date with how we have got increased stocks, the basis on which they decide which stocks to increase and by how much and generally just seeing what is an exceptionally efficient operation from our health service.
“You should be reassured that we are doing everything we can.
“I would ask you not to stockpile because I think that creates difficulties down the line and trust the work that we have put in place is doing everything that we can to ensure that you get the medication that you need.”
Ms Freeman said the Scottish Government and NHS were “working really hard” to ensure there were no shortages, including identifying alternatives if particular brands of medicine became unavailable and setting up triage centres to provide advice to GPS on what to do in the face of any shortages.
If not needed after Brexit the extra stock will still be used, she said. Ms Freeman said: “All we have done is brought forward some of the additional spend that we would be making anyway in order to ensure that we have got enough the stock just now.”
Ms Freeman accused the UK Government of having a “brass neck” for criticising the Scottish Government’s Brexit preparations.
She said: “Our preparations are well in advance, but it is the UK Government that has to ensure that there are adequate channels for the input of medicines and other consumables from the European Union. The Scottish Government doesn’t have the powers to do that.”