Concern raised over availability of HRT medication

A local MLA has said nobody should be forced to struggle to access vital medication they need for a health condition.

SDLP's Cara Hunter made the comments last night after a County Derry woman revealed she had frantically tried more than ten chemists in the area last week in a desperate bid to get her hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medication.

The woman in her fifties, who preferred not to be named, said she believes the shortages in the drug are down to the rules around the importation of medicines as a result of Brexit.

The woman said she had ordered a repeat prescription for Oestrogel Pump HRT as usual.

However, when she went to pick it up from her local chemist, she was told that the medication was in short supply and couldn't be got in other local chemists.

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“I was told to try back next week but I was going to be out of it by the weekend,” said the woman. “I asked for the script and said I'd try chemists in Limavady but one pharmacist in a chemist there told me that he had women coming into the chemist every day trying to get it and it couldn't be got.”

“He said they check the wholesaler's stock every morning and they don't have it either and it can't be got for Northern Ireland.

“I was told my best bet would be to get my GP to prescribe me another treatment, or, if I'm lucky enough I'd find a wee backwater chemist with a bottle on their shelf.”

After contacting around a dozen pharmacies throughout the county, the woman managed to track down one bottle in a chemist in Magherafelt.

“I rang around chemists around the county and managed to get one bottle in a chemist in Magherafelt but that'll only do me to Friday. It seems no women in Northern Ireland on that type of HRT can get it at the minute.

"I would say I could have got cocaine quicker. I have also been told of another local woman who took to the internet to see if she could buy her HRT from there, it's that bad,” she said.

East Derry MLA Cara Hunter.

“It's my understanding the shortage is down to the new rules around the importation of medicines as a result of Brexit.

“I was in tears at the thought of running out of it and now if they can't get any more when this bottle runs out in ten days time I'll have to start trying alternatives,” she added.

Cara Hunter last night said she will do everything in her power to ensure vital medication is available to women who need it.

“It’s extremely concerning that this woman was placed in the unfortunate position of having to run around a variety of chemists to secure important medication.

"Nobody should be forced to struggle to access the treatment they need for a health condition and the pressures and stress that come with that,” said Ms Hunter.

“Brexit has created a lot of confusion and uncertainty. That’s why the SDLP campaigned against it and that’s why we continue to work to find solutions to the small number of issues that remain as a result of the Protocol. 

“I will be contacting the Executive Office directly to raise this woman’s experience and identify what, if anything, is holding up the supply of HRT in the North. I will do everything in my power to ensure that this vital medication is available for women who need it.”

The County Derry Post contacted the Pharmaceutical Society NI for comment however at the time of going to print last night they hadn't responded.

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