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| Antibiotics for strep A in good supply, says health secretary Steve Barclay | Antibiotics for strep A in good supply, says health secretary Steve Barclay |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Liquid antibiotics are being prescribed to children with worsening symptoms of strep A | Liquid antibiotics are being prescribed to children with worsening symptoms of strep A |
| There are good supplies of antibiotics to treat strep A and stock can be moved around if there are issues in some areas, Health Secretary Steve Barclay has told the BBC. | There are good supplies of antibiotics to treat strep A and stock can be moved around if there are issues in some areas, Health Secretary Steve Barclay has told the BBC. |
| But pharmacies are worried about patchy supply caused by rising demand for penicillin and amoxicillin. | But pharmacies are worried about patchy supply caused by rising demand for penicillin and amoxicillin. |
| These medicines are used to treat cases of strep A and scarlet fever, which are higher than usual around the UK. | These medicines are used to treat cases of strep A and scarlet fever, which are higher than usual around the UK. |
| Nine children have died with rare but severe bacterial strep A infections. | Nine children have died with rare but severe bacterial strep A infections. |
| Health experts say parents and doctors need to be vigilant and alert to the symptoms of infection. | Health experts say parents and doctors need to be vigilant and alert to the symptoms of infection. |
| GPs have been advised to prescribe antibiotics for children who may have worsening symptoms linked to strep A. | GPs have been advised to prescribe antibiotics for children who may have worsening symptoms linked to strep A. |
| Strep A can look like a number of different conditions, and is mild in most cases, causing a sore throat or skin infection which is easily treated with antibiotics. | Strep A can look like a number of different conditions, and is mild in most cases, causing a sore throat or skin infection which is easily treated with antibiotics. |
| But it can develop into scarlet fever and, very rarely, into invasive group-A streptococcal infection (iGAS) which can be extremely serious. | But it can develop into scarlet fever and, very rarely, into invasive group-A streptococcal infection (iGAS) which can be extremely serious. |
| Schools with a number of cases of strep A or scarlet fever could be given antibiotics to hand out to pupils in order to prevent further spread of the bacteria. | Schools with a number of cases of strep A or scarlet fever could be given antibiotics to hand out to pupils in order to prevent further spread of the bacteria. |
| Strep A: What is it and why can it be dangerous | Strep A: What is it and why can it be dangerous |
| Strep A schools may be given preventive antibiotics | Strep A schools may be given preventive antibiotics |
| Mum warns of Strep A symptoms after child's illness | Mum warns of Strep A symptoms after child's illness |
| This is prompting concern from pharmacists in England and also in Wales that stock of antibiotics could run low unless there is some planning around supply. | |
| Mr Barclay told BBC Breakfast: "We have very regular contact with the medical suppliers, and the manufacturers have said they don't have concern in terms of supply at the moment. | Mr Barclay told BBC Breakfast: "We have very regular contact with the medical suppliers, and the manufacturers have said they don't have concern in terms of supply at the moment. |
| "It is always the case that if you have a particular surge in one or two GPs then the response suppliers look at warehouse depots and how they move their stock around. | "It is always the case that if you have a particular surge in one or two GPs then the response suppliers look at warehouse depots and how they move their stock around. |
| "What the suppliers have said to us is they do have good levels of supply, and that is not a concern at the moment, and where there are particular issues with GPs, then they will move stock around accordingly." | "What the suppliers have said to us is they do have good levels of supply, and that is not a concern at the moment, and where there are particular issues with GPs, then they will move stock around accordingly." |
| However, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) says pharmacies are having to "work very hard to obtain stocks of these antibiotics and some lines are unavailable". | However, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) says pharmacies are having to "work very hard to obtain stocks of these antibiotics and some lines are unavailable". |
| It says there has been a spike in demand for some antibiotics, including those used to treat strep A in children. | It says there has been a spike in demand for some antibiotics, including those used to treat strep A in children. |
| "We have been advised by wholesalers that most lines will be replenished soon, but we cannot say exactly when that will be," the NPA said. | "We have been advised by wholesalers that most lines will be replenished soon, but we cannot say exactly when that will be," the NPA said. |
| Pharmacists said they would work with local GPs to help people get the medicines they need as quickly as possible, but that could require a change of prescription. | Pharmacists said they would work with local GPs to help people get the medicines they need as quickly as possible, but that could require a change of prescription. |
| The Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, which represents 4,000 pharmacies, says the supply of antibiotic medicines in oral liquid form (for children) from wholesalers is "patchy". | The Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, which represents 4,000 pharmacies, says the supply of antibiotic medicines in oral liquid form (for children) from wholesalers is "patchy". |
| It says pharmacies are experiencing supply issues from all wholesalers, and it puts this down to a big rise in the number of prescriptions for antibiotics. | It says pharmacies are experiencing supply issues from all wholesalers, and it puts this down to a big rise in the number of prescriptions for antibiotics. |
| What should parents do? | What should parents do? |
| Trust your judgement if your child seems seriously unwell. | Trust your judgement if your child seems seriously unwell. |
| Contact your local surgery if they: | Contact your local surgery if they: |
| are getting worse | are getting worse |
| are eating much less than normal | are eating much less than normal |
| show signs of dehydration, such as a dry nappy for 12 hours | show signs of dehydration, such as a dry nappy for 12 hours |
| have a temperature of 39C or higher, or 38C if under three months old | have a temperature of 39C or higher, or 38C if under three months old |
| are a baby and feel hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest or sweaty | are a baby and feel hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest or sweaty |
| are very tired or irritable | are very tired or irritable |
| Call 999 or go to an accident-and-emergency unit if: | Call 999 or go to an accident-and-emergency unit if: |
| they are having difficulty breathing - you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribs | they are having difficulty breathing - you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribs |
| they are pausing when they breathe | they are pausing when they breathe |
| their skin, tongue or lips are blue | their skin, tongue or lips are blue |
| they are floppy and will not wake up or stay awake | they are floppy and will not wake up or stay awake |