Published: 16/01/23

This Circular advises that eight of the UK-wide Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Phenoxymethylpenicillin products (SSPs 040-047) due to expire on 31 January 2023 have been extended until 28 February 2023.

In addition, amendments to five of the noted SSPs for Phenoxymethylpenicillin products have been made (SSPs 043-047) removing two of the alternative antibiotic options, azithromycin, and clarithromycin.

Community Pharmacists are advised to review and familiarise themselves with the extended and amended SSPs. Please refer to Annex A for a detailed list of all eight extended SSPs which also notes the ones that have been amended.

Background

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

Each SSP is individually developed and authorised clinically, to enable community pharmacists and dispensing doctors to dispense a different strength or formulation or alternative medicine or appliances in accordance with the protocol, rather than having to refer prescribing decisions back to the original prescriber. These protocols are time limited.

Community pharmacists are expected to use their professional skill and judgment 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.