A senior pharmacist says a penicillin shortage is leading to fears that some prescriptions will not be filled as seasonal sickness levels continue to rise.
His warning comes amid concerns some parents have been resorting to using old or out-of-date antibiotics they have found at home to treat their children.
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Ninth child dies in Strep A outbreak
That led to Thorrun Govind, chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, cautioning against self-diagnosis and urging parents to talk to their GP instead.
She has warned leftover antibiotics must be returned to pharmacies as there is a risk that children could be given an incorrect dose.
Nine children in the UK are known to have died in a recent outbreak of a form of Strep A, an infection that is usually mild and treated easily with the antibiotic amoxicillin.
But an invasive form of the bacteria known as iGAS has increased this year – particularly in those under the age of 10.
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Schools ‘may’ get Strep A antibiotics
The National Pharmacy Association confirmed there had been a spike in demand for some antibiotics, including those used to treat Strep A infection in children.
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A statement said: “Pharmacies are having to work very hard to obtain stocks of these antibiotics, and some lines are temporarily unavailable.
“We have been advised by wholesalers that most lines will be replenished soon, but we cannot say exactly when that will be.
“As always, pharmacists will continue to work with local GPs to help people get the medicines they need as promptly as possible, which may require a change of prescription.”
Mr Rehmani, whose pharmacy is in Manchester, told Sky News’ Inzamam Rashid: “When we hear stories about possibly giving antibiotics to children in schools, it just shows how out of touch the Department of Health is with on-the-ground pharmacy.”
He added: “Pharmacists across the country are thinking we haven’t got enough penicillin to fill our prescriptions, let alone handing it out to schools.”
Health minister Maria Caulfield said a cross-party briefing had been held for MPs on Strep A, and she denied there was a shortage of antibiotics.
She said: “We want to reassure parents if their children do have symptoms, and they are concerned to seek help – GPs are ready, A&E departments are ready, and also we have directors of public health proactively going into schools where there are cases.
“There is no shortage of antibiotics we want to reassure people on that, and we’re keeping an eye on that on a daily basis.”
Dr Colin Brown, UKHSA deputy director, told Sky News there was “long-standing guidance” that enables health protection teams to assess the situation in schools and nurseries to consider antibiotic prophylaxis for “either a group of children in certain classes or an entire nursery school”.
Following the death of at least nine children across the UK, Dr Brown reiterated there was no evidence to suggest there had been a change to the circulating strains of Strep A to make them more severe.
He suggested it was a lack of mixing due to the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to the susceptibility in children that was “bringing forward the normal scarlet fever season” to this side of Christmas.
The force, which has faced claims of a botched investigation, has admitted it still has no suspect and no motive two months on from the cold-blooded execution despite 30 officers working to crack the case.
The initial seven-day delay in declaring a murder inquiry is being examined by Scotland’s police watchdog, The Police Investigations & Review Commissioner (Pirc).
Former superintendent Martin Gallagher, who retired from the force in 2022, says there are concerns over the officers who discovered Mr Low’s body and wrote the case off as non-suspicious.
Mr Gallagher told Sky News vital clues could have been lost and the killer may even have returned to the scene given the area was not cordoned off for days.
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He said: “You’ve had officers attend a crime scene who have misidentified what has happened. There are questions to be asked about their ability and about their conduct.
“Police Scotland made a mistake at the start which is very unfortunate, but that happens.
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“Police Scotland will learn from this and hopefully a training programme will be looked at in terms of how we deal with crime scenes initially in terms of homicide.”
Police Scotland refused to take questions from Sky News in an interview.
A spokeswoman said: “The circumstances have been referred by Police Scotland to the Police Investigation and Review Commissioner.
“It would therefore be inappropriate to comment further.”
Officers have visited 478 properties and interviewed more than 800 people in the Perthshire area as part of the probe which is now entering its third month.
Local resident Chris Clear told Sky News he believes officers are examining a theory the suspect may have fled the scene on a bike.
He said: “Yesterday they were asking me if we had bicycles. They are really just looking for people who used the track where Brian was killed.
“Someone has done it. They probably live here. It puts a bad feeling across the whole of the village.”
Their injuries are not life-threatening, police have said.
Dyfed-Powys Police say the incident happened at about 11.20am on Wednesday morning.
The force confirmed the school was put into lockdown “for the safety of all on the premises”.
Pupils were released from the school at around 3.20pm, with hundreds of parents gathered outside to collect them.
The teenage girl is currently in police custody and a knife has been recovered in evidence, police said in an update at the scene.
The comprehensive school in the town of Ammanford in Carmarthenshire has over 2,000 pupils between the ages of 11 and 18.
The school had been in lockdown since about 11am, with pupils told to stay in their classrooms.
Hundreds of parents were assembled outside the school by 3pm, waiting to collect their children from the school.
Rachel Young, a parent at the school, told Sky News her daughter and other pupils had been “locked” in the classroom.
“She’s scared obviously. She says she’s fine, but they all say ‘I’m fine’ but they’re obviously not going to be and what’s going to happen from now on, I don’t know. We don’t even know if the school’s going to be open,” she said.
“I wanted to get here. I rang the school and they said they’re not allowing anyone in or anyone out, but they couldn’t really comment any further than that.”
A spokesperson for Ysgol Dyffryn Aman said the family members of the injured have been informed.
“We would like to reassure parents and the public that the incident has been contained,” they added.
Dyfed-Powys Police said it was aware that footage of the incident was “circulating on social media”.
“We would ask that this is removed to avoid contempt of court and distress to those affected,” a spokesperson said.
Police have also asked people not to speculate as the investigation is ongoing.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his “shock” at the news.
‘Close and welcoming community’
In the Senedd, Lee Waters, a former pupil of the school who represents Llanelli, asked an emergency question on the incident.
“Ammanford is a close and welcoming community,” he said.
“I think the fact now that this is happening in the social media age adds further distress to it.”
Lynne Neagle, Wales’s education secretary told Senedd members it was “very important” to let the police undertake their investigation.
“They were very clear with myself and the First Minister earlier that lots of speculation is not helpful,” she said.
“We need to let them do their job at the same time as making sure that we support the school and the community through this very difficult period.”
Superintendent Ross Evans, Carmarthenshire Commander, said police were working with the school and other agencies to ensure “appropriate support is available to all involved”.
“This was a very distressing incident and our thoughts are with the victims, their families and everyone impacted by what has happened,” he added.
“Local people will see more police in the area over the coming days as the investigation continues.”
‘Shocking incident’
Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, Darren Price, praised the teachers, staff and pupils of Ysgol Dyffryn Aman “for the way they’ve responded to this shocking incident”.
“As a council, our priority now is to do all that we can over the coming days and weeks to support the pupils and staff in the aftermath,” he said.
“Today’s events have come as a grave shock to the school community, to Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, and further afield.
“To support Dyfed-Powys Police, Ysgol Dyffryn Amann will be closed tomorrow (Thursday) to all pupils and staff in order for officers to further carry out their investigations.
“Although the school will be closed, I want to reassure pupils, parents and staff that well-being support is available to anyone who has been affected. The school will continue its lessons online.”
Anyone with information that could help officers with their investigation is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police.
Three people have been injured in a “major incident” at a school in West Wales.
Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Carmarthenshire has been closed as investigations continue into a reported stabbing on Wednesday, Dyfed-Powys Police said.
A local councillor who serves on the school’s governing body said she had been told the incident involved a stabbing.
Those injured were said to be receiving treatment.
One person has been arrested and police say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
Emergency services remain at the scene and the force said it is working closely with the school and Carmarthenshire County Council.
Pupils were released from the school at about 3.20pm, after it had been in lockdown since about 11am.
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A spokesperson said: “We are aware that there is footage of the incident currently circulating on social media.
“We would ask that this is removed to avoid contempt of court and distress to those affected.”
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Police have asked people not to speculate as the investigation is ongoing.
A spokesperson for Ysgol Dyffryn Aman said the family members of the injured have been informed.
“We would like to reassure parents and the public that the incident has been contained,” they added.
The comprehensive school in the town of Ammanford has about 2,000 pupils.
Police did not give the ages of those hurt or of the person who has been detained.
‘Deeply worrying’
Hundreds of parents were assembled outside the school by 3pm, waiting to collect their children from the school.
Rachel Young, a parent at the school, told Sky News her daughter and other pupils had been “locked” in the classroom.
“She’s fine but they’ve locked them in the classroom” she said.
“She’s scared obviously. She says she’s fine, but they all say ‘I’m fine’ but they’re obviously not going to be and what’s going to happen from now on, I don’t know. We don’t even know if the school’s going to be open.
“I wanted to get here. I rang the school and they said they’re not allowing anyone in or anyone out, but they couldn’t really comment any further than that.”
Councillor Rob James, who represents Lliedi ward, said: “My thoughts are with the headteacher, teaching staff, parents and pupils of Ysgol Dyffryn Aman after today’s major incident.
“I have been in contact with Carmarthenshire Council and will provide any support I can to the school during this difficult time.”
First Minister Vaughan Gething said he was “shocked to hear” about the incident, adding it was “a deeply worrying time for the school, families and community”.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his “shock” at the news.
“I want to thank the police and emergency services for their ongoing response and my thoughts are with all those affected,” he said.
In an interview with WalesOnline, Councillor Karen Davies – a LEA governor at the school – said she had been told there was a stabbing.
“I have been told someone has been arrested and that two members of staff have been stabbed, but have no confirmation on how serious the injuries are,” she told the news website.
“I send my thoughts to those injured and all the people there. I know how well the school rehearsed lockdown and I am sure everything is under control.”
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, described the incident as “violent” and said it was “deeply sad and distressing”.
Adam Price, Senedd member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, said: “As we wait for more information to be released, my thoughts, like the rest of us, are with the school’s community.”
Emergency response
A spokesperson for the Welsh Ambulance Service said the service was called shortly after 11.15am to an incident on Margaret Street.
“We sent four emergency ambulances and the hazardous area response team to the scene, where crews were supported by two Cymru high acuity response unit paramedics and an operational manager,” the spokesperson added.
“Advanced critical care support was delivered by the emergency medical Retrieval and Transfer Service in two Wales Air Ambulance charity helicopters.”
The Wales Air Ambulance confirmed it was in attendance at an incident in the region.
“We mobilised three critical care teams at 11.30am. Our Dafen and Welshpool based crew were mobilised by air and our Cardiff based crew was mobilised by road,” they said.