CONCERNS have been raised over an apparent shortage of diabetes medication affecting pharmacies in Oxfordshire.

On Friday the NHS trust that runs the county's hospitals noted 'supply issues' with a type of fast-acting insulin called Novorapid.

Novorapid is a fast-acting form of insulin sold in vials and pre-filled pens that can be injected or used in a pump to lower high blood sugar levels in adults.

Roy Probert, a spokesman for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "There have been some supply issues between the manufacturer and our supplier.

"However, the Trust has ensured that we have sufficient quantities of this drug in stock to keep patients safe over the Bank Holiday weekend."

Bicester resident Bob Gordon, who uses Novorapid in its slow-release pump form every day, said a shortage could be 'life-threatening'.

The 50-year-old contacted five pharmacies in Bicester, Langford and Oxford last week, all of which were running low on or completely out of stock.

He said: "The diabetes specialist nurse has told me I'm going to have to switch insulin, which I am very reluctant to do.

"There's going to be thousands of people affected. At the moment I've got about enough to last me another week; one vial will last two to three days."

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