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| Grimsby woman worried after missing ADHD medicine for months | Grimsby woman worried after missing ADHD medicine for months |
| (25 days later) | |
| Hannah Huxford was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 47 | Hannah Huxford was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 47 |
| A woman said she has been unable to get her ADHD medication for months. | A woman said she has been unable to get her ADHD medication for months. |
| Hannah Huxford, 49, from Grimsby is one of thousands of patients unable to get hold of medicine to manage their symptoms due to a national shortage. | Hannah Huxford, 49, from Grimsby is one of thousands of patients unable to get hold of medicine to manage their symptoms due to a national shortage. |
| Mrs Huxford, who was diagnosed with the condition two years ago, described the situation as a "huge worry". | Mrs Huxford, who was diagnosed with the condition two years ago, described the situation as a "huge worry". |
| The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it had taken action to improve the supply of medicines but added that "some challenges remain". | The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it had taken action to improve the supply of medicines but added that "some challenges remain". |
| Mrs Huxford said the medicine made a "huge difference" and got her life back on track. | Mrs Huxford said the medicine made a "huge difference" and got her life back on track. |
| Since being diagnosed, she has written and published her own book and sells clothes online. | Since being diagnosed, she has written and published her own book and sells clothes online. |
| "It enables me to function and concentrate so I can be more proactive, I can be more productive," she explained. | "It enables me to function and concentrate so I can be more proactive, I can be more productive," she explained. |
| She said she had been unable to get her usual supply since October 2023 and has to ration what she can get hold of. | She said she had been unable to get her usual supply since October 2023 and has to ration what she can get hold of. |
| "Christmas time it was just getting beyond a joke. I was going back to the pharmacy, probably two or three times in a month, just to collect the little IOUs and it was getting to the point where that, in itself, was becoming a stress," she said. | "Christmas time it was just getting beyond a joke. I was going back to the pharmacy, probably two or three times in a month, just to collect the little IOUs and it was getting to the point where that, in itself, was becoming a stress," she said. |
| "It is a worry because I've just got my life back. | "It is a worry because I've just got my life back. |
| "Since my diagnosis and being medicated, I've turned my life around. | "Since my diagnosis and being medicated, I've turned my life around. |
| "All of a sudden, if this medication is taken away from me, I'm frightened that I will go back to not being able to cope." | "All of a sudden, if this medication is taken away from me, I'm frightened that I will go back to not being able to cope." |
| What is Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) | What is Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) |
| Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition that affects people's behaviour. | Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition that affects people's behaviour. |
| People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse. | People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse. |
| Most cases are diagnosed when children are under 12 years old but sometimes it is diagnosed later in childhood. | Most cases are diagnosed when children are under 12 years old but sometimes it is diagnosed later in childhood. |
| However, on other occasions ADHD was not recognised at all when someone was a child and they are diagnosed later, as an adult. | However, on other occasions ADHD was not recognised at all when someone was a child and they are diagnosed later, as an adult. |
| Source: NHS England | Source: NHS England |
| James Davies, from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said the supply shortage has been caused by manufacturing problems and an increase in demand. | James Davies, from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said the supply shortage has been caused by manufacturing problems and an increase in demand. |
| "There are more people who are being diagnosed with ADHD, more people seeking to access ADHD treatments. That's not just related to the UK, this is a global problem," he said. | "There are more people who are being diagnosed with ADHD, more people seeking to access ADHD treatments. That's not just related to the UK, this is a global problem," he said. |
| Mr Davies said some ADHD medication has come back into stock but added "it's quite a fluid situation at the moment". | Mr Davies said some ADHD medication has come back into stock but added "it's quite a fluid situation at the moment". |
| The government issued a Patient Safety Alert in September 2023, warning that stock issues could last until December 2023. | The government issued a Patient Safety Alert in September 2023, warning that stock issues could last until December 2023. |
| ADHD UK said the main medicine provider told them it expects shortages to continue until April 2024. | ADHD UK said the main medicine provider told them it expects shortages to continue until April 2024. |
| The charity said an estimated 150,000 people were being affected by the current shortage. | The charity said an estimated 150,000 people were being affected by the current shortage. |
| Mrs Huxby has written a book about her experience and sells clothes online | Mrs Huxby has written a book about her experience and sells clothes online |
| A DHSC spokesperson said: "We have taken swift action to improve the supply of ADHD medications but we know some challenges remain and understand that this may be distressing to patients and families. | A DHSC spokesperson said: "We have taken swift action to improve the supply of ADHD medications but we know some challenges remain and understand that this may be distressing to patients and families. |
| "We are working closely with the NHS, industry and others operating in the supply chain to help resolve any issues with ADHD medication as soon as possible. | "We are working closely with the NHS, industry and others operating in the supply chain to help resolve any issues with ADHD medication as soon as possible. |
| "We have also issued advice to healthcare professionals and any patient who is worried about their condition should speak to their clinician." | "We have also issued advice to healthcare professionals and any patient who is worried about their condition should speak to their clinician." |
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