William faces missing out on school because of shortage of ADHD medicine
SUPPLY PROBLEMS WITH DRUGS THAT HELP HIM TO CONCENTRATE
A MUM says she is “heartbroken” for her eight-year-old son who is facing missing large chunks of school due to a shortage of medication.
Natalie and Matthew Buxton, from Sandiacre, have been struggling for months to get treatment for their son William’s Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Mrs Buxton said William’s supply of tablets has dwindled, causing him to lose concentration and “lash out” more.
“He can’t go without,” said the 38-year-old. “I’m heartbroken for him. It’s going to affect everything, his friendships, his school work, his everyday life.
“That’s also going to impact my work and my husband’s.”
The NHS said that shortages were due to national and global “difficulties with medicine supplies”, as well as an increasing demand for ADHD medication.
Thousands of people have been affected by the problem across the UK. The ADHD UK charity recorded a “significant decline” in the availability of medicines over the past six months.
It said only 11 percent of recipients got their normal prescription, a drop from 52 percent in September. William, who is on three different types of medication, has only been able to take a limited amount over the past few months.
Mrs Buxton said this meant he would go without at home, using them for school instead. But now, with no tablets for the time being, her son will need to leave school at lunchtime.
“He is frightened because he needs his medication to control what’s going on in his head. He’s so bright, he just can’t focus without meds, he can’t sit to do anything,” she said.
“With the medication there’s very, very little rage outbursts. He can control his thoughts. He works ahead in subjects, he can do adult Lego on his own. He can’t do any of that without them.
“I try about 20 pharmacies a day to try and get it. There’s nowhere you can get it from. It’s not a situation unique to us. It must be affecting so many, not only children but adults too.”
Another one of those affected is the 14-year-old daughter of Charlotte, from Sawley. The 39-year-old said she has been forced to cut down to just night tablets, causing her to struggle.
“The medication calms her down dramatically. She goes from a hyperactive child to controlled,” she said.
“It’s had a massive effect on her education – she can’t concentrate. I don’t know how long it will last but something needs to happen.”
Charlotte said she is trying to find alternative ways of calming her daughter down but has so far had little luck.
“We went swimming and we’ve tried walking down for a whole day in Nottingham,” she said. “But she’s still wanting to do a marathon. Nothing else works. I feel sorry for her but there’s nothing we can do.”
A spokesperson for NHS Derby and Derbyshire said: “There are significant difficulties worldwide and in the UK with the supply of medicine. Additionally, ADHD has been recognised and diagnosed worldwide in greater numbers over recent years and this has led to increased demand.
“We do not have any influence over the way medicines are supplied from manufacturers to wholesalers and on to community pharmacists. However, we recognise that these issues are causing shortages locally and these are leading to difficulties for people who rely on their medication.
“We advise our health providers, GPS and pharmacists to follow national guidance on prescribing alternative medicines when their first choice medicine is unavailable. We also advise patients to work with their GP, local pharmacies and Derbyshire NHS hospitals to identify supply when it is available and to explore alternative sources of supply.”