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A GRANDPA has been forced to eat just one meal a day to make his lifesaving medicine last, as the UK faces a major shortage of the drug. Paul Elcombe, 62, from Kent, takes Creon three times a day to help digest his food after having his pancreas removed two years ago. 2 Paul needs Creon to absorb nutrients from his food Credit: Paul Elcombe 2 Paul was sent supply of the prescription drug by another patient, it reads: 'Hi Paul, now you can eat, enjoy' Credit: Paul Elcombe The grandpa-of-two has turned to Facebook in a desperate attempt to get more supplies since he hasn't been able to get any from the chemist since Christmas.

"Without this medicine, I can't eat. I'll waste away and end up dying," he said. Conservative MP Andrew Stephenson said to Parliament this month the Government was "aware" of "ongoing intermittent supply issues" of Creon and is "exploring ways" to "manage this issue".



The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has since initiated what is known as a serious shortage protocol (SSP) for Creon - which it does when it deems there is a serious shortage of a specific medicine. It means pharmacists are able to refer patients back to their doctor or another pharmacy if they don't have the medicine in shock. I'm terrified every time I take a pill, as each time I do, I know I'm one step closer to running out Paul Elcombe After Whipple's surgery in 2022, Paul was left unable to make the enzymes that help absorb food in the stomach.

"If I don't have Creon with ev.

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