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A national shortage of epilepsy medication is putting patients’ safety at risk, consultants have said.

Medical professionals are becoming genuinely concerned as ever more frequent supply issues continue to bite tens of thousands of sufferers.

According to the Epilepsy Society charity, over 600,000 people in the UK have the condition, or about one in every 100 people.

Among them is Charlotte Kelly, a mother of two living in London who has had epilepsy for over 20 years. She must take two tablets a day to manage her condition but issues with supply have forced her to start rationing her medication.

Speaking to Sky News, Ms Kelly told us of the fear surrounding the restricted access to the medicate she needs to survive.

“I’m scared. If I’m truly honest, I’m scared knowing that I might not get any medication for a few weeks, or a couple of months, I just don’t know when.

“It’s scary to know that I have to worry about getting hold of medication. I do believe that something needs to happen very quickly because even if it’s pre-ordered there’s no guarantee you’re going to get it.

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“The anxiety of worrying about if you’re going to get your medication builds up and the worry alone can cause seizures.”

It’s added worry knowing her chances of having seizures increases her reliance on her 14-year-old daughter who often has to make the 999 calls to get help for her mum.

She was due to get a renewed supply in December to get her through the next two months.

But there’s no guarantee of when any of it will next be in stock.

“I get very, very frustrated. There’s times when I’ve had to call five, six different pharmacies and the more you’re calling, and you’re not hearing what you need to hear.

“You’re getting more and more frustrated and then you’re getting upset and it’s like where do we stand? Epilepsy is a very, very, very common condition.

“Over 600,000 people in the UK alone, have epilepsy. And when but yet we feel like we are just a hidden condition.

“People just don’t understand that if I don’t have my medication I could have multiple seizures, and that could lead to hospitalisation, and at worst case, death.”

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain and causes frequent seizures.

It can start at any age, but usually starts in childhood or in people over 60.

Seizures are bursts of electrical activity in the brain that temporarily affect how it works. They can cause a wide range of symptoms.

Symptoms include:

• uncontrollable jerking and shaking, known as a “fit”

• losing awareness

• becoming stiff

• strange sensations, such as a “rising” feeling in the belly, unusual smells or tastes, and a tingling feeling in your limbs

• collapsing

Seizures can be triggered in numerous ways including flashing lights, sleep deprivation, misuse of drugs or missing medications.

The condition affects more than 600,000 people in the UK.

Kay Dhillon, a pharmacist in west London, showed me the near-empty cubby hole and cupboard which is usually full of epilepsy medication as she told Sky News she started noticing products were flagging and being out of stock three weeks ago.

She describes it now as being at crisis point.

London pharmacist Kay Dhillon
Image:
London pharmacist Kay Dhillon

“It is a crisis. You don’t know how many epilepsy fits or tablets the person can have or how severe their epilepsy is. Because obviously, they’ve been taking it every single day for so many years and it just stops one day, or even if they miss a dose, it’s a big deal.”

Ms Dhillon says she has been given no indication of when the drugs will be back in stock.

She says she’s been managing so far by helping patients access resources shared between four pharmacy branches but says everyone’s supplies are running low.

“It seems like it’s a manufacturing issue. Obviously, patients are asking – how can you not know when it will be back in stock?

“It’s a shame because patients rely on you for this and they shouldn’t have to go looking around for their daily medication.”

Read more:
Rapper Professor Green reveals he suffered a seizure
Soundtracking an epileptic brain – one musician’s story
Free medicinal cannabis to be donated to epileptic children

Speaking to Sky News, Professor Ley Sander, director of medical services at the Epilepsy Society, says the supply concern is not just on the minds of patients but those in the industry too.

“It might be that we need a strategic reserve for storage of drugs, we might have to bring drugs over from other parts of the world to avoid this from recurring.

“We’re not at that point yet, but this is an urgent issue.”

In a statement provided to Sky News, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We understand how frustrating and distressing the possibility of medication shortages can be and are aware of supply issues with the epilepsy medicine carbamazepine. These have been communicated to the NHS, with information and advice provided on how to manage patients affected by these issues.

“The department is working closely with suppliers, NHS England, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the devolved governments and other stakeholders to ensure patients continue to have access to the treatments they need. Through this work, problems with carbamazepine should be resolved by early February.”

It is those like Charlotte who are left bearing the brunt till then.

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Ex-England footballer Stuart Pearce’s son Harley dies in tractor crash

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Ex-England footballer Stuart Pearce's son Harley dies in tractor crash

The son of former England footballer Stuart Pearce has died in a crash, his family has said.

Harley Pearce, from Marlborough in Wiltshire, was driving a tractor near Witcombe, Gloucestershire, on Thursday, when he was involved in a collision, police said.

The 21-year-old farming worker died at the scene, on the A417 Old Birdlip Hill in Witcombe, around five miles from Gloucester.

No other vehicles were involved, Gloucestershire Constabulary said. Emergency services were called to the scene of the incident at about 2.30pm on October 16.

Stuart Pearce at last year's FA Cup Final at Wembley. Pic: PA
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Stuart Pearce at last year’s FA Cup Final at Wembley. Pic: PA

Harley Pearce was 21 and worked in farming, according to reports.

‘Our shining star’

In a tribute posted on Facebook, Harley sister, Chelsea Pearce, said the family was “truly shocked and utterly heartbroken at the loss of our cherished son and devoted brother, Harley”.

He was, the family said, was a soul “who left an unforgettable imprint on all who knew him”.

“He was a golden boy with an infectious smile, and this shocking tragedy will leave a huge hole in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to have known him.”

He had “a quiet, understated strength and deep kindness”.

The family said they were “so proud of the young man he had become, exhibiting a wonderful work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit in the farming industry.

“He will always be our shining star. Rest in Peace, our beautiful son and brother. You will never, ever be forgotten.”

What have police said?

Harley ran his own company, Harley Pearce Agricultural Service, talkSPORT said.

Gloucestershire Constabulary said on Thursday: “The driver of the tractor, a man in his 20s and from Wiltshire, was pronounced dead at the scene.

“His next of kin are aware and being supported by specially trained officers.”

The force is appealing for any witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to contact them.

‘Tragic news’

Harley’s father, Stuart Pearce, played 78 times for England and was part of the Three Lions squads which reached the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup and Euro 96, the FA said on its website.

He was later the head coach of the England Under-21s.

During a long club career, he made more than 400 appearances for Nottingham Forest, many of them as captain, during a 12-year spell at the City Ground.

He later managed the club, as well as another former club, Manchester City.

Pearce currently works as a pundit on talkSPORT, which said on its website that Harley and Chelsea were the two children he had with his ex-wife Liz.

Presenter Jim White said during a broadcast on Monday that “everybody here on this show and at talkSPORT sends our heartfelt condolences to the family of Stuart Pearce after that tragic news we’ve just heard”.

Read more on Sky News:
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What’s affected by internet outage
Blind patients regain sight

Several of the clubs he played for posted tributes on X, including Forest, who said they were “deeply saddened”.

The club said: “The thoughts of everyone connected with Nottingham Forest are with Stuart and his family at this truly difficult time.”

West Ham United said: “We are saddened to hear of Harley Pearce’s passing.

“Everyone at the Club sends their deepest condolences to Stuart and his family at this tragic time.”

Manchester City said: “Everyone at Manchester City sends their love and thoughts to Stuart and his family at this very difficult time.”

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Inquiry launched into ‘repeated’ maternity failings at Leeds NHS trust

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Inquiry launched into 'repeated' maternity failings at Leeds NHS trust

After years of campaigning, bereaved families in Leeds have been told they will get a fully independent inquiry into local maternity services.

The inquiry was announced by Health Secretary Wes Streeting who said he was “shocked” that the families faced “repeated maternity failures… made worse by the unacceptable response of the trust”.

Despite running one of the largest teaching hospitals in Europe, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust “remains an outlier on perinatal mortality”, according to official data.

In June, the Care Quality Commission downgraded maternity services at the trust to “inadequate”, describing serious risks to women and babies and a deep-rooted “blame culture” that left staff afraid to speak up.

Leeds was downgraded to "inadequate" in June by the Care Quality Commission, over serious risks to women and babies
Image:
Leeds was downgraded to “inadequate” in June by the Care Quality Commission, over serious risks to women and babies

Grieving families have welcomed the launch of the inquiry.

In 2023, an inquest concluded Fiona Winser-Ramm and Daniel Ramm’s first baby, Aliona, died in 2020 as a result of neglect from medical staff.

“When after our daughter died, we were told that they had never seen anything like it before. And we believed it initially,” said Ms Winser-Ramm.

Fiona Winser-Ramm's baby died in 2020 after failings by staff
Image:
Fiona Winser-Ramm’s baby died in 2020 after failings by staff


“We believed that we were the first people, the only people that this had ever happened to. And in the depths of our despair and grief, we needed to find other people that understood this, that were the same as us,” she added.

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Mr Ramm said the inquiry had been “a long time coming”.

“We have, as a group of families, spent years trying to essentially expose what the problems have been at least that we’ve known have existed all along,” he said.

Daniel Ramm says the inquiry has been 'a long time coming'
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Daniel Ramm says the inquiry has been ‘a long time coming’

Lauren Caulfield’s baby Grace was stillborn in 2022 and an investigation found failings in her care.

“We shouldn’t… as bereaved, grieving parents have to do this [campaigning] for so many years. [It’s] quite a relief to know that, you know, we don’t have to keep fighting,” she said.

Bereaved parent Lauren Caulfield is relieved, saying 'we don't have to keep fighting'
Image:
Bereaved parent Lauren Caulfield is relieved, saying ‘we don’t have to keep fighting’

Mr Streeting said: “This stark contradiction between scale and safety standards is precisely why I’m taking this exceptional step to order an urgent inquiry in Leeds.

“We have to give the families the honesty and accountability they deserve and end the normalisation of deaths of women and babies in maternity units.

“These are people who, at a moment of great vulnerability, placed their lives and the lives of their unborn children in the hands of others – and instead of being supported and cared for, found themselves victims.”

Read more from Sky News:
Hospital trusts face maternity probe
‘Toxic cover-up’ culture in NHS
Nottingham trust admits baby failings

Brendan Brown, chief executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “I want to start by offering the families an unreserved apology, not only for their experience, but also for the fight that they’ve had in raising these concerns.

“And I want to assure them of our commitment to engage with the independent inquiry openly, honestly and transparently.”

Chief executive of the Trust, Brendan Brown, has offered families an unreserved apology
Image:
Chief executive of the Trust, Brendan Brown, has offered families an unreserved apology

The families are waiting for the terms of reference of the investigation to be confirmed, but feel the police should be involved.

They also called for it to be chaired by midwife Donna Ockenden, who is heading the independent review of maternity services at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Leeds now joins a growing list: Morecambe Bay, Shrewsbury, East Kent, and the ongoing Nottingham inquiry, all uncovering shocking failures in maternity care across England.

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King visits scene of fatal Manchester synagogue attack

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King visits scene of fatal Manchester synagogue attack

The King has visited the scene of a fatal attack at a synagogue in Manchester.

The monarch was greeted by Rabbi Daniel Walker when he arrived at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue.

He spent a few minutes at an outside memorial area next to the synagogue, where flowers and messages have been left by those paying their respects.

Rabbi Daniel Walker and the King
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Rabbi Daniel Walker and the King

Pics: PA
Image:
Pics: PA

It was the King’s first official engagement since Prince Andrew‘s decision to relinquish his titles under intense public scrutiny following allegations he sexually abused Virginia Giuffre. The prince vehemently denies the allegations.

Andrew also faces the Metropolitan Police looking into reports he asked an officer to help with an attempted smear campaign against Ms Giuffre.

Pics: PA
Image:
Pics: PA

During the attack at the Manchester synagogue on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, father-of-three Melvin Cravitz, 66, was killed, along with Adrian Daulby.

Mr Daulby, 53, was believed to have been inadvertently shot by police as he ran to block the synagogue doors to stop the attacker getting inside to continue his knife rampage.

(L-R) Victims Adrian Daulby and and Melvin Cravitz. Pics: Family handout/Greater Manchester Police
Image:
(L-R) Victims Adrian Daulby and and Melvin Cravitz. Pics: Family handout/Greater Manchester Police


Attacker Jihad al Shamie, 35, called 999 during his deadly rampage, pledging allegiance to the so-called Islamic State terror group.

He drove his car at Jews gathering at the Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue for the holy day of Yom Kippur, then attacked others with a knife and tried to storm the synagogue, wearing a fake suicide belt, before armed police shot him dead.

Last week, Yoni Finlay, who is believed to have been hit by a police bullet during the attack and underwent seven hours of surgery, was discharged from hospital.

He reportedly helped barricade the doors at the synagogue.

Read more:
The father of Jihad al Shamie calls for unity
How attacker became radicalised

Greater Manchester Police said two other men injured in the attack, a security guard who was hurt when the attacker rammed his car outside the synagogue and a volunteer who was stabbed, remain in stable conditions.

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