Richard attended a drop-in about pancreatic survivors.
Speaking after the event, Richard said:
"I recently met with pancreatic cancer survivors to hear the impact of ongoing shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), which thousands of people rely upon daily to digest food and absorb nutrients. Without PERT tablets, people with pancreatic cancer can experience debilitating symptoms, are less able to tolerate treatment, have poorer quality of life and can even be at risk of starvation.
Supplies of the essential medication have been disrupted for over a year and the problem is set to last until at least 2026 due to production problems at the main plant supplying the UK and increasing demand for the medication.
Pancreatic Cancer UK estimates the shortages could be affecting 61,152 people across the UK - which means around 100 families in Basildon and Billericay. As well as the pancreatic cancer community, people with cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis and neuroendocrine cancers also can be reliant on PERT too.
More must be done to ensure that PERT is available when people need it and I’ll keep pressing minister to ensure the situation gets resolved asap."
