Published: 16/01/23

This Circular advises that three UK-wide active Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) products due to expire on 27 January 2023, have been extended.

The extensions are applicable to the following HRT products: Sandrena® 500 microgram and 1mg gel sachets. This relates to SSPs 029-031 which will now expire on Tuesday 28 February 2023. Please refer to Annex A for a detailed list of all three extended SSPs.

Background

To assist in alleviating the current issues with HRT 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.

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

The addition of new SSPs and 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.