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The cost of antibiotics needed to treat Strep A has skyrocketed – as industry professionals claim prices have been hiked up to take advantage of “unprecedented” demand.

Multiple pharmacies have warned they cannot obtain the necessary medications to treat Strep A as a 16th child died in Sussex with a suspected infection on Friday – despite the government insisting there are “sufficient” stocks and dismissing concerns about a national shortage.

But one pharmaceutical industry leader who agreed to speak to Sky News anonymously said the cost of antibiotic Amoxicillin has risen from 80p to £18.

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Shortages have been driven by “complicated supply chains” for medications and the raw materials used to make them, in many different parts of the world.

However, the industry has also seen “volatile spikes in demand for drugs” – following a sharp decline in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people were not mixing or seeing GPs.

The Department of Health and Social Care told Sky News that it is “normal” for prices to “fluctuate based on demand”.

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“What’s important is patients are still able to access antibiotics, which they are,” a spokesperson said.

“We are working urgently with manufacturers and wholesalers to explore what can be done to expedite deliveries and bring forward stock they have to help ensure it gets to where it’s needed, to meet demand as quickly as possible and support access to these vital medicines.”

A letter from NHS England to pharmacists, seen by Sky News, said local pharmacy teams may be experiencing a “temporary interruption of supply of some relevant antibiotics due to increased demand.”

Supply chain disruption in China

Sky News understands there is particular disruption in the Chengdu region of China, where raw materials are sourced before being delivered to Bangladesh for manufacturing.

“The minute there is a shortage, there are people who hold stocks who will take advantage of it in order to price it however they want to price it, and they can price it pretty much wherever they like,” the industry leader said.

“So you have a lot of small, so-called short line wholesalers who will make hay while the sun shines and will be charging what they want, because they know there is enormous demand.”

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Sky’s data and forensics correspondent Tom Cheshire analyses the case numbers behind Strep A

The NHS gives pharmacies a price each month for drugs they have been dispensed.

But if the price falls sharply, pharmacies end up getting underpaid, the industry leader said.

“The problem pharmacists are facing is there is a big cash shortfall when you see very rapid price increases.

“Temporarily we might be able to cover the cost – but it might mean some pharmacists go bust,” they warned.

The shortage is “scare-led and demand-led” but is unlikely to continue “indefinitely” and could “fade away quite quickly”.

They likened the situation to people stockpiling toilet paper during the pandemic.

“The amount the UK requires is extremely predictable but the moment anyone suggests there isn’t enough of it, immediately it goes out of stock because you can’t ramp up capacity that quickly.”

Shortfalls will probably last for another year, they suggested.

“Unprecedented shortage”

But even a temporary shortage will be a “serious problem”, an independent pharmacist in Oxfordshire warned – describing the situation as “unprecedented”.

Faheem Ahmed told Sky News’ Adele Robinson he had just three boxes of antibiotics – with many out of stock.

“I hope it is temporary, but we are dealing with bacteria here, so when you say temporary, these bacteria multiply in minutes, seconds.

“They are not going to wait for two, three, four days so whether it is temporary or long-term, if you look at it from a scientific level…the infection is going to spread.”

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Parents are urged to look out for symptoms of Strep A infection

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Strep A: Find out how many severe infections and scarlet fever cases are in your area
Antibiotics could be given to schools with Strep A infections

Mr Ahmed said in the 10 years since he qualified, he has never known a shortage of antibiotics – and parents are “panicking”.

The NHS would typically reimburse around £1.39 for drugs which have now risen more than double in price to £3.50.

“For some reason in the space of three to four weeks, we can’t get hold of the raw materials,” Mr Ahmed told Sky News.

“The manufacturers say ‘we don’t have it’, the suppliers don’t have it, so now we have the demand which will always be there at this time of year.

“It has gone up, supply has come down and I wouldn’t be surprised once the NHS has to pay more, I think stock will be back.”

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Starmer urges anyone with information on Epstein case to come forward – after Andrew misses Congress deadline

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Starmer urges anyone with information on Epstein case to come forward - after Andrew misses Congress deadline

Sir Keir Starmer has urged anyone with information on the Jeffrey Epstein case to come forward after Andrew Mountbatten Windsor missed the deadline to appear in front of US Congress.

US legislators have criticised Andrew for what they describe as “silence” amid their probe into Epstein after he failed to respond to their request for an interview.

When asked about Andrew missing the deadline and whether the former prince should help the case in any way he can, Sir Keir said on his way to the G20 summit in South Africa: “I don’t comment on this particular case.”

He added that “a general principle I’ve held for a very long time is that anybody who has got relevant information in relation to these kind of cases should give that evidence to those that need it”.

Andrew is not legally obliged to talk to Congress and has always vigorously denied any wrongdoing.

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Sir Keir Starmer spoke to reporters on his way to the G20 in South Africa. Pic: Reuters
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Sir Keir Starmer spoke to reporters on his way to the G20 in South Africa. Pic: Reuters

It comes as Marjorie Taylor Greene, a loyal supporter-turned-critic of US President Donald Trump, said on Friday she is resigning from Congress in January.

Ms Greene’s resignation followed a public falling-out with Mr Trump in recent months, as the congresswoman criticised him for his stance on files related to Epstein, as well as on foreign policy and healthcare.

Members of the House Oversight Committee had requested a “transcribed interview” with Andrew in connection with his “long-standing friendship” with Epstein, the paedophile financier who took his own life in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges.

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Releasing the Epstein files: How we got here

But after saying they had not heard back, Democrats Robert Garcia and Suhas Subramanyam accused Andrew of hiding.

Their statement read: “Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s silence in the face of the Oversight Democrat’s demand for testimony speaks volumes.

“The documents we’ve reviewed, along with public records and Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s testimony, raise serious questions he must answer, yet he continues to hide.

“Our work will move forward with or without him, and we will hold anyone who was involved in these crimes accountable, no matter their wealth, status, or political party. We will get justice for the survivors.”

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The new Epstein files: The key takeaways

It follows Andrew being stripped of his prince and Duke of York titles earlier this month.

He had previously agreed to stop using his titles, but had expected to remain a prince and retain his dukedom, ahead of the publication of the memoirs of the late Ms Giuffre, who had accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager – an accusation he denies.

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Girl, 13, arrested on suspicion of murdering woman in Swindon

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Girl, 13, arrested on suspicion of murdering woman in Swindon

A 13-year-old girl has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a woman in Swindon.

Police said the teenager was detained following an incident in Baydon Close, Moredon, in the Wiltshire town on Friday evening.

Officers responded to reports of disorder inside a house. When they arrived, a woman in her 50s living at the address was found to be not breathing. She was declared dead at the scene.

There were no other reported injuries.

Forensic officers are at the scene to collect evidence
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Forensic officers are at the scene to collect evidence

Detective Inspector Darren Ambrose, from Wiltshire Police’s major crime investigation team, said: “This is a serious incident in which a woman has sadly died.

“We have set up a cordon at the address while an investigation is carried out.

“I can confirm that we have arrested a teenage girl in connection with this incident and we are not looking for anyone else.”

Police have asked people not to speculate about the incident online as this could prejudice the case.

A police statement read: “Residents can expect to see an increased police presence in the area while we continue carrying out our enquiries into the woman’s death.

“The suspect remains in custody at this time.”

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Boris Johnson hits out at COVID inquiry report

Police said anyone with concerns should speak with their local neighbourhood policing team, either by emailing or approaching officers in person.

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Rail fares to be frozen for first time in 30 years

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Rail fares to be frozen for first time in 30 years

Rail fares are to be frozen for the first time in 30 years, the government has announced.

Ministers promised that millions of rail travellers will save hundreds of pounds on regulated fares, including season tickets and peak and off-peak returns between major cities.

The fare freeze applies to England and services run by English train operators.

People commuting to work three days a week using flexi-season tickets will save £315 a year travelling from Milton Keynes to London, £173 travelling from Woking to London and £57 from Bradford to Leeds, the government said.

The changes are part of Labour’s plans to rebuild a publicly owned Great British Railways. Other planned changes include tap in-tap out and digital ticketing, as well as investing in superfast Wi-Fi.

The freeze applies to regulated fares, including season tickets and peak and off-peak returns. Pic: iStock
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The freeze applies to regulated fares, including season tickets and peak and off-peak returns. Pic: iStock

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government was introducing a freeze on rail fares for the first time in 30 years, which “will ease the pressure on household finances and make travelling to work, school or to visit friends and family that bit easier”.

“We all want to see cheaper rail travel, so we’re freezing fares to help millions of passengers save money,” Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said.

“Commuters on more expensive routes will save more than £300 per year, meaning they keep more of their hard-earned cash.”

Rail unions and passenger groups welcomed the move, praising how it will make travel more affordable for passengers and promote more sustainable travel alternatives.

Read more:
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Dozens injured in passenger train collision

Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said: “More affordable fares will encourage greater use of public transport, supporting jobs, giving a shot in the arm to local economies and helping to improve the environment.”

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said the rail fare freeze “will be a huge relief to working people”.

“This is the right decision, at the right time, to help passengers be able to afford to make that journey they need to take, and to help grow our railway in this country, because the railway is Britain’s green alternative – taking cars and lorries off our congested roads and moving people and goods safely around our country in an environmentally-friendly way,” Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers union Aslef, said.

The Tories welcomed the move but said the government was “late to the platform”.

Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden said: “In government, the Conservatives kept fares on the right track with below-inflation rises and consistently called for no further hikes to protect hard-working commuters.”

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