Published: 28/04/23

Purpose

This Circular advises NHS Boards and community pharmacy contractors that ten of the UK-wide Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for antibiotics products due to expire on 28 April 2023 have now been extended.

The SSPs for Phenoxymethylpenicillin (SSPs 040-047) have been extended until Friday 12 May 2023, and the SSPs for Clarithromycin (SSPs 053-54) in oral suspension formulation have been extended until Friday 26 May 2023.

Similarly, the three UK-wide SSPs for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) related to Sandrena® (estradiol) 500 microgram and 1mg gel sachets ( SSPs 029-031) due to expire on 28 April 2023 have also been extended until Friday 12 May 2023

Community pharmacists are advised to review and familiarise themselves with the new end dates for all these SSPs. Please refer to Annex A and B for a detailed list of all thirteen SSPs which have been extended .

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 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. 

Action

Health Boards are asked to note the contents of this Circular and to bring it to the attention of community pharmacy contractors on their Pharmaceutical Lists and Area Pharmaceutical Committees. This Circular should also be brought to the attention of General Practices.