Published: 07/03/23

This Circular advises NHS Boards and communitypharmacy contractors that eight of the UK-wide SeriousShortage Protocols (SSPs) for Phenoxymethylpenicillinantibiotic products (SSPs 040-047) due to expire on 28February 2023 have been extended until Friday 31March 2023.

Similarly, three UK-wide SSPs for HormoneReplacement Therapy (HRT) related to Sandrena® 500microgram and 1mg gel sachets ( SSPs 029-031) due toexpire on 28 February 2023 have also been extendeduntil Friday 31 March 2023

Community pharmacists are advised to review andfamiliarise themselves with the new end date for allthese SSPs. Please refer to Annex A and B for a detailedlist of all eleven SSPs which have been extended .

Background

To assist in alleviating current supply issues withmedicines availability, various UK-wide SSPs have beenissued by the Department for Health and Social Care(DHSC), in consultation with the Scottish Government.An SSP is an additional tool to manage and mitigatemedication shortages for prescribing clinicians,community pharmacies and importantly patients.

Each SSP is individually developed and authorisedclinically, to enable community pharmacists anddispensing doctors to dispense a different strength orformulation or alternative medicine or appliances inaccordance with the protocol, rather than having to referprescribing decisions back to the original prescriber.These protocols are time limited.

Community pharmacists are expected to use their professional skill and judgement to decide whether it is reasonable and appropriate to substitute a person's prescribed medicine using the SSP. The person will also have to agree to the alternative supply.

The DHSC frequently reviews which medicines should be under an SSP and for how long they need to be in place.

Any amendments or extensions to existing SSPs are documented on the NHS Business Services Authority website using the following link: Serious shortage protocols (SSPs) | NHSBSA.

Enquiries

For any queries on the details of this circular, please contact the Scottish Government Pharmacy Team at PharmacyTeam@gov.scot.