Why is pregnancy medicine not readily available to everyone?

In the UK, it is up to the local Integrated Care Board (ICB) to decide whether or not a person can take this medicine.

In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Xonvea is included in the official list of prescription medicines, the formulary.

It was prescribed for Bassey by her GP, but it took seven weeks.

Eldridge says: “Xonvea is very difficult to find in the UK at the moment. It’s a postcode lottery drug.

“It’s great that it’s now on the formulary in Hampshire, however, it’s one of the places where they’ve added a few criteria to the drug list. So women who aren’t comfortable with other antiemetics can try it,” he said.

“We are calling for equal access to this drug for women in England who suffer from pregnancy sickness and want to try it, so we want it to be an option for everyone if they want to take it.”

Neil Hardy, Chief Pharmacist at NHS Hampshire and Whitworth, said: “Xonvea is included in topical formularies as an option to treat nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

“Following evidence review, it is currently not a preferred first-line treatment option, but may be considered for women who have not responded to or are unsuitable for other established therapies.

“We recognize that experiences of accessing medicines can vary, and we welcome the move to a national formulary where we are an early adopter and to support greater consistency across the NHS.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care, which includes Xonvea for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, said: “What medicines are prescribed will be decided by the doctor responsible for the patient’s care.”

He continued, “According to the 10-year health plan to improve equitable access to drugs in all parts of the country, work is being done to transfer to a national drug formulary.”

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