'I can only eat once a day to make my medication last'

Paul Elcombe is prescribed to take Creon three times a day

A Kent man says he is restricting himself to one meal a day to make his medication last due to a shortage of the drug.

Paul Elcombe, 62, from Hartley, takes Creon three times a day after having part of his pancreas removed during major surgery, but his supply is set to run out in 10 days.

"I will just fade away because you need these tablets to digest the goodness from the food,” he said.

A Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) spokesperson said it was aware of supply issues affecting the medication and working with the manufacturer to "help resolve them".

Following surgery, Mr Elcombe does not release enough enzymes to break down food and he relies on the tablets to help him digest meals.

“The rule of the game is you have got to eat little and often. But I can’t eat little and often because I simply don’t have the tablets,” he said.

“Everyone needs food to survive but without these tablets, the food will go straight through me and I'll get no nutrients.”

International shortages of Creon are due to a reduction in the yield of enzymes obtained in the manufacturing process.

Mr Elcombe was sent a supply of the prescription drug by another patient

The supply of pills Mr Elcombe is currently using were sent to him as a gift from another patient in Ireland.

The transport manager said he and his wife had "driven miles" to different chemists but were unable to find another batch.

His wife, Tracyanne, said: "We're frightened. We don't know what's going to happen. He has to have this medication to survive

The DHSC spokesperson said it had issued "comprehensive guidance" to healthcare professionals about the supply issues, including advice on how to manage patients while there is disruption to supply.