Concerns about medicines shortages in the UK have been highlighted in recent analysis from the House of Lords Public Services Committee and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

The House of Lords Public Services Committee warns that medicines supply should be treated as a national resilience issue, noting the UK’s heavy reliance on complex global supply chains and overseas manufacturing. It argues that the current approach is too reactive and calls for stronger national leadership, better data sharing and clearer oversight of shortages.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society also emphasises the growing impact on patients and pharmacy teams. Even when only a small proportion of medicines are affected, shortages can lead to treatment delays, additional workload for healthcare professionals and anxiety for patients.

Both organisations stress the need for coordinated action to strengthen supply chains and ensure reliable access to medicines.

Read the full articles here:

Lords Committee calls for proactive leadership to tackle medicines supply

Royal Pharmaceutical Society – Medicines Shortages: Solutions for empty shelves

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Here’s a selection of three articles from around the world in 2025 about CAH. They cover treatment methods and long term outcomes for people with CAH – making for interesting reading for anyone interested in or affected by CAH.

These articles are not a recommendation and are not endorsed by the CAH support group – they are provided for informational purposes only and should be discussed with your clinician as you see fit.

• “Optimizing glucocorticoid therapy in congenital adrenal hyperplasia and analog conditions: the intersection of dose reduction, patient care, and coverage in the US”

• “Long-term outcomes of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency: a retrospective study from a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia“

 

• “Endothelial dysfunction in congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency: current knowledge and novel biomarkers” 

As new guidance and information becomes available, we will do our best to link to it below – please check here for updates.

If you contract COVID-19, remember to adhere to sick-day rules. Always seek guidance from your GP, endocrinologist or other appropriate medical profession for more information.

Post-pandemic information

• UK Covid Guidelines – COVID-19: guidance and support – GOV.UK
• UK Covid vaccine guidelines – COVID-19 vaccine – NHS
• UK Covid Green Book showing vaccine eligibility – COVID-19: the green book chapter – GOV.UK (Page 32, section “Autum 2025” of the “1 September 2025” version shows latest eligibility recommendations)

The resources listed above were last accessed 1st November 2025.

 

Updates from during the pandemic – 

10th August 2021

Article: “ChAdOx1 SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination: A putative precipitant of adrenal crises”

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4th Feburary 2021

The Addison’s Disease Self-Help Group has published guidance in conjuction with a number of medical professionals stating that  “Patients with…other causes of adrenal insufficiency, such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia…, fall into the vulnerable group. The government has issued guidance that patients with these conditions should be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures and advise people to work from home, where possible.”.

The guidance also provides information about which ‘UK Government priority groups‘ those with adrenal insufficiency fall into.

18th December 2020

The Society of Endocrinology has issued a statement about COVID-19 vaccines – read our news article here:

Society for Endocrinology statement on COVID-19 vaccines

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24th April 2020

The Lead Editors of the European Journal of Endocrinology (EJE) have commissioned a review series entitled ‘Endocrinology in the time of COVID-19’.

Find all of these publications on the EJE’s site here, or view the specific Management of Adrenal Insufficiency paper here. 

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24th March 2020

Professor Stephanie Baldeweg, Consultant Endocrinologist, has shared a video on Twitter for all those with adrenal insufficiency. See the post here.

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20th March 2020

Guidance from the Society for Endocrinology and Metabolic Support UK has been recently updated.

Society for Endocrinology – Guidance updated to make clear that ‘patients with adrenal insufficiency should follow the stringent social distancing rules’. (Read more)…

Metabolic Support UK – Guidance updated to reflect Paracetamol/Ibuprofen advice (Read more)…

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18th March 2020

UK Government –  Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK and protecting older people and vulnerable adults

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UPDATE 16th March 2020

Society for Endocrinology – Coronavirus advice statement for patients with adrenal/pituitary insufficiency

Metabolic Support UK – Coronavirus Advice

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We have collected some guidance about the outbreak from the World Health Organizion below, as well as made some suggestions for people living with CAH.

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

How does COVID-19 spread?

People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is important to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.

Read more from the WHO here.

 

Tips for people living with CAH

No specific advice has been issued for those with adrenal insufficiency or CAH. So, as well as following the advice for the general public from the WHO, we recommend the following:

• Remember ‘sick day rules’.
• Make sure you have enough medication on hand.
• Where possible, vaccinate against seasonal flu.

If any information specific to CAH does become available, we will publicise it as soon as we can. 

The CAH Support Group is pleased to announce its 7th Annual General Meeting (AGM).

It will be held in person at The Lighthouse, Oxford on Sunday 2nd November 2025 at 3pm UK time. A virtual Teams link is available on request.

If you’d like to see the agenda and/or attend, please contact Jess (her details are on the ‘Meet the Team’ page) .

 

You can also download the event flier here.

The Addison’s Disease Self-Help Group (ADSHG) is hosting a webinar titled “The Art of Parenting While Sick” on March 27, 2025.

Led by Hilary Hodge, who personally manages her own adrenal insufficiency, the session aims to equip parents with effective, age-appropriate strategies and scripts for discussing their health challenges with their children. This event is particularly beneficial for parents seeking guidance on navigating the complexities of parenting while managing a chronic illness.

Find out more on the ADSHG website here: 

https://www.addisonsdisease.org.uk/Event/the-art-of-parenting-while-sick

 

Image and article created using AI.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed an upcoming shortage of hydrocortisone sodium phosphate for emergency injection kits from the end of February 2025, with supply expected to resume in May 2026. 

Find more information about this on the Addison’s Self Help Group here: https://www.addisonsdisease.org.uk/news/drug-shortage-alert-injectable-hydrocortisone-2025

Credit to the Addison’s Self Help Group. 

Call for participants – “Exploring the lived experiences and quality of life of individuals affected by CAH”

If you’re 18 years and over and living with CAH, tell us how CAH affects your life in an individual discussion held at a convenient time face-to-face or online.

The aim of this study is to find out how CAH affects the quality of life of people affected by this condition. We will be carrying out interviews with people affected by CAH to find out how having this condition affects people’s daily lives and well-being at different stages in their life. The study findings will be used to help us develop a quality of life questionnaire that focuses on the unique issues affecting people with CAH. The questionnaire could eventually be used by health professionals and researchers to improve the care of individuals with the condition.

Individuals over the age of 18 with a diagnosis of CAH are eligible to take part in this study. Partners or relatives of people with CAH are also welcome to participate. The study will involve a one-to-one online or face-to-face interview at a convenient date and time. We expect the interviews to last about an hour. A £20 Amazon voucher will be provided to people who take part as reimbursement for their time.

The research is being led by Professor Aled Rees, Professor of Endocrinology and Consultant Endocrinologist Cardiff University, in collaboration with Cardiff Metropolitan University and Living with CAH. The study has been approved by the Cardiff University School of Medicine Research Ethics Committee: 24/32.

 If you are interested in taking part in the study, download the flier here.

The publication of new NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines – “Adrenal insufficiency: identification and management” marks a significant advancement in the management and treatment of primary, secondary and tertiary adrenal insufficiency.

These guidelines provide updated, evidence-based recommendations designed to improve diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care for individuals with adrenal insufficiency.

By setting clear standards, the new guidelines aim to enhance patient outcomes, ensure timely interventions, and reduce assoicated risks – including that of adrenal crisis.

Read the guidelines on the NICE website here.