GPs claim HSE failed to inform them of drugs risk

Doctors have claimed the HSE failed to tell them about potentially fatal flaws in how two blood-thinning drugs to fight stroke are being used on 4,000 people — despite officials knowing about the problems since last week.

Ray Walley, chair of the Irish Medical Organisation GP committee, made the allegations on national radio yesterday, arguing that he would be quicker getting the details from “a [carrier] pigeon” than health service management.

The medical warning surrounds two drugs, called Xarelto and Pradaxa, which have been developed to help in the fight against stroke, a serious debilitating brain condition that affects 10,000 people in Ireland every year.

Although the medications are entirely safe, there are concerns that doctors have been wrongly advised to provide them in doses which are 50% lower than needed to adequately treat patients — while further issues surround how they interact with other daily drugs such as aspirin.

The potentially fatal problems were identified by the HSE’s Medicines Management Programme team last week with the group’s clinical lead, Michael Barry, sending letters about the concerns on March 5.

However, speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, the IMO’s most senior GP, Dr Walley, said frontline doctors — including himself — were oblivious to the difficulties until weekend media reports.

“Unfortunately I read it with everyone else in the Sunday Business Post and I was horrified that this is the method of communication,” said Dr Walley.

“It appears the HSE knew of this issue on Tuesday or Wednesday last week. Professor Barry was of the understanding that communication had occurred with GPs.

“I spoke to a number of GPs the length and breadth of the country last night and none of them had received any correspondence.

“A [carrier] pigeon would provide me with a letter quicker than that.”

Speaking on the same programme, Prof Barry said GPs would receive all relevant documentation on the potential crisis by last night.

Both medics stressed anyone currently taking the medications should continue to do so unless they are feeling noticeably unwell.

They have also been asked to immediately contact their GP regardless of whether they are feeling unwell or not in case their current medication intake needs to be reduced or altered.

The Irish Heart Foundation has advised anyone concerned about the medications they are receiving to contact its national heart and stroke helpline on 1890 432 787.

Drugs misuse alert

The alert over the potential misuse of two powerful blood-thinning drugs relates specifically to new medications Xarelto and Pradaxa.

The drugs, developed as alternatives to warfarin, are entirely safe when used in the correct dosage. However, concern has been raised over the fact medics were advised to provide them in a dosage that is half what is required.

Further issues surround how they interact with other commonly used drugs such as aspirin.

Anyone who has been prescribed the drugs is advised immediately to contact their GP to inform them of the situation, whether they are feeling unwell or not.

In a worst-case scenario, those receiving the drugs in the wrong dosage are at an increased risk of stroke and linked debilitating, potentially fatal conditions.