The health secretary, Victoria Atkins, has been accused of failing to ensure the supply of the only drug that can lengthen the lives of motor neurone disease sufferers by months despite officials being alerted to a shortage last autumn.
Shortages of riluzole, which can delay the onset of ventilator dependence, were first reported to the Motor Neurone Disease Association by sufferers in August and the situation was flagged to the Department of Health and Social Care in September.
