A nationwide shortage of key ­pharmaceutical drugs is forcing NHS patients to import them via friends living abroad,The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Some are looking as far as India to access drugs – from sources which may not be safe – according to ­campaigners who argue this dangerous situation is a result of the Government’s failure to tackle the ongoing crisis.

The warning follows the launch of a Mail on ­Sunday drive to ease the shortages for some of the most vital drugs in the country,after new data revealed that,over the past two years,half of patients have struggled to get essential medication they have been ­prescribed.

Research suggests that some of those in shortest supply include commonly used antibiotics,hormone replacement therapies (HRT) and drugs to treat chronic conditions such as asthma,diabetes,cancer,epilepsy,cystic fibrosis and Parkinson’s.

While on lamotrigine,Chelsea went a year without having an attack,but her seizures have returned since pharmacies started to run out of the medication

‘I live in a small rural town and there are only a couple of pharmacies,’ says Chelsea. ‘Nine times out of ten these days they don’t have it. As a result,I’ve suffered more seizures.’

One reader said that the shortages meant she was forced to switch to a new blood pressure medication which left her violently sick.

Violet Jones,60,from Northern Ireland,says the new tablet also triggers debilitating heartburn and stops her from sleeping.

‘I had to take early retirement,and it limits my ability to socialise,plan holidays or eat a meal with my husband,’ says Violet.

We were also contacted by a nurse who works with patients with severe lung disease and epilepsy at a leading NHS hospital,who said that a quarter of phone calls her team receive are from patients who cannot source the drugs they need.

‘We,and patients,get little or no notice of drug shortages.

‘Usually the first time the patient knows is when their pharmacy tells them they can’t fulfil the ­prescription,’ said the nurse,who asked to remain anonymous. ‘We have to tell patients to ring around pharmacies,for instance,throughout the county,to get the drugs they need.

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‘It’s a shocking state of affairs. The Mail on Sunday’s four-point plan is to be welcomed.’

Another person severely affected is cancer patient David Richardson,57,who due to a lack of medicine has been losing weight as he cannot digest food.

The police investigator from Leicester had a section of his pancreas removed in February,and relies on a treatment called Nutrizym 22 to help break down food.

But difficulty getting hold of it means he has been moved on to another medicine,yet that is also in short supply and,when he can get it,doesn’t work as well.

‘David has lost four stone and is still losing weight,’ his wife Karen,a retired primary school teacher,59,says.

‘Living with cancer is bad enough but this situation should be avoidable.’

The Mail on Sunday has offered the Labour Party multiple opportunities throughout the election to commit to tackling the drug shortage ­crisis.

On Friday,we asked them once again whether they would take action. Each time,our questions were met with silence.

The Department of Health and Social Care has also declined to ­comment.

NHSIndia