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Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs)


Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) are a part of the legislative framework in Scotland, which allow community pharmacists to make specific changes to prescribed medicines without going back to the prescriber. These protocols can be put in place when there is a serious shortage of a specific medicine.

Serious Shortages Protocol
PCA(P)(2024) 31 – Extension to SSP for Isosorbide Mononitrate (Monomax XL 60mg) Modified-Release Tablet
PCA(P)(2024) 31 – Extension to SSP for Isosorbide Mononitrate (Monomax XL 60mg) Modified-Release Tablet

This Circular advises community pharmacy contractors that the Serious Shortage Protocol for isosorbide mononitrate (Monomax® XL) 60mg modified release tablet due to expire on 18 October 2024 has been extended until Friday 15 November 2024. 

PCA(P)(2024)24-27 - SSP for Isosorbide Mononitrate (Chemydur® 60XL) Tabs
PCA(P)(2024)24-27 - SSP for Isosorbide Mononitrate (Chemydur® 60XL) Tabs

To advise of a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for isosorbide mononitrate (Chemydur® 60XL) modified release tablet, from 6 September 2024 to 27 September 2024. 

PCA(P)(2024)22- Serious Shortage Protocol for Cefalexin 500mg Tabs
PCA(P)(2024)22- Serious Shortage Protocol for Cefalexin 500mg Tabs

To advise of a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for cefalexin 500mg tablets, from 6 August 2024 to 27 September 2024.

PCA(P)(2024)21- Serious Shortage Protocol for Ramipril 2.5mg Tabs
PCA(P)(2024)21- Serious Shortage Protocol for Ramipril 2.5mg Tabs

To advise of a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for ramipril 2.5mg tablets, from 6 August 2024 to 15 November 2024.

PCA(P)(2024)11 - Extension to SSP for Clarithromycin 125mg/ml and 250mg/ml Oral Suspension
PCA(P)(2024)11 - Extension to SSP for Clarithromycin 125mg/ml and 250mg/ml Oral Suspension

This Circular advises community pharmacy contractors that the two UK-wide Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Clarithromycin antibiotic products due to expire on 21 June 2024 have now been extended until Friday 19 July 2024.

PCA(P)(2024)09 - Reactivation of SSP for Clarithromycin 125mg/5ml and 250mg/5ml Oral Suspension
PCA(P)(2024)09 - Reactivation of SSP for Clarithromycin 125mg/5ml and 250mg/5ml Oral Suspension

This Circular advises Health Boards and community pharmacy contractors that the two UK-wide Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Clarithromycin 125mg/5ml and 250mg/5ml oral suspension have been reactivated on 22 May 2024. The new end date for both SSPs is now 21 June 2024.

PCA(P)(2024)08 - SSP: Creon® 25000 Gastro-Resistant Capsules
PCA(P)(2024)08 - SSP: Creon® 25000 Gastro-Resistant Capsules

To advise of a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for Creon® 25000 gastro-resistant capsules, from 24 May 2024 to 22 November 2024.

PCA(P)(2024)07 - Serious Shortage Protocol: Creon® 10000 Gastro-Resistant Capsules
PCA(P)(2024)07 - Serious Shortage Protocol: Creon® 10000 Gastro-Resistant Capsules

To advise of a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for Creon® 10000 gastro-resistant capsules, from 24 May 2024 to 22 November 2024.

PCA(P)(2024)05 - Extension to SSP for Isosorbide Mononitrate
PCA(P)(2024)05 - Extension to SSP for Isosorbide Mononitrate

This Circular advises NHS Boards and community pharmacy contractors that the UK-wide Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for isosorbide mononitrate (Monomil® XL) 60mg modified release tablet due to expire on 3 May 2024 has been extended until Friday 31 May 2024.

PCA(P)(2024)03 - Serious Shortage Protocol for Isosorbide Mononitrate (Monomil XL) 60mg Modified Release Tablet
PCA(P)(2024)03 - Serious Shortage Protocol for Isosorbide Mononitrate (Monomil XL) 60mg Modified Release Tablet

To advise of a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for isosorbide mononitrate (Monomil® XL) 60mg modified release tablet, from 26 March 2024 to 3 May 2024.

PCA(P)(2023)43 - Extension to SSP for Clarithromycin
PCA(P)(2023)43 - Extension to SSP for Clarithromycin

This Circular advises NHS Boards and community pharmacy contractors that the UK-wide Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Clarithromycin

PCA(P)(2023)41 - SSP for Issued for Clarithromycin
PCA(P)(2023)41 - SSP for Issued for Clarithromycin

This Circular advises NHS Boards and community pharmacy contractors that the UK-wide Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Clarithromycin

PCA(P)(2023)40 - Extension to SSP issued for Estradot®
PCA(P)(2023)40 - Extension to SSP issued for Estradot®

This Circular advises NHS Boards and community pharmacy contractors that the UK-wide active Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Estradot®

PCA(P)(2023)38 - Extension to SSP for Jext 300 micrograms/ 0.3mL
PCA(P)(2023)38 - Extension to SSP for Jext 300 micrograms/ 0.3mL

This Circular advises NHS Boards and community pharmacy contractors that the UK-wide active Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Jext® 300 micrograms/ 0.3mL (1 in 1000) solution for injection auto-injector pen

PCA(P)(2023)37 - SSP for Estradot® 100 Microgram Patches
PCA(P)(2023)37 - SSP for Estradot® 100 Microgram Patches

This Circular advises community pharmacy contractors that the UK-wide active Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Estradot® (estradiol hemihydrate) 100 microgram patches

PCA(P)(2023)36 - SSP for Clarithromycin
PCA(P)(2023)36 - SSP for Clarithromycin

This Circular advises community pharmacy contractors that two of the UK-wide Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Clarithromycin antibiotic

PCA(P)(2023)33 - SSP for Estradot®
PCA(P)(2023)33 - SSP for Estradot®

This Circular advises community pharmacy contractors that the UK-wide active Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Estradot® (estradiol hemihydrate) 100 microgram patches

PCA(P)(2023)32 - SSP for Utrogestan®
PCA(P)(2023)32 - SSP for Utrogestan®

This Circular advises community pharmacy contractors that the UK-wide active Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Utrogestan®

PCA(P)(2023)31 - SSP for Jext 300 micrograms/0.3mL
PCA(P)(2023)31 - SSP for Jext 300 micrograms/0.3mL

To advise of a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for Jext® 300 micrograms/0.3mL (1 in 1000) solution for injection auto-injector pen, from 21 August 2023 to 15 September 2023.

PCA(P)(2023)30 - SSP for Estradot (Estradiol hemihydrate)
PCA(P)(2023)30 - SSP for Estradot (Estradiol hemihydrate)

To advise of a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for Estradot® (Estradiol hemihydrate) 100 microgram patches, from 21 August 2023 to 8 September 2023.

PCA(P)(2023)29 - SSP for Progynova®
PCA(P)(2023)29 - SSP for Progynova®

This Circular advises community pharmacy contractors that the Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Progynova®

PCA(P)(2023)28 - Extension to SSP for Utrogestan® 100mg Capsules
PCA(P)(2023)28 - Extension to SSP for Utrogestan® 100mg Capsules

This Circular advises community pharmacy contractors that the UK-wide active Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Utrogestan® (micronised progesterone) 100mg capsules

PCA(P)(2023)25 - Extension to SSP for Clarithromycin Antibiotic
PCA(P)(2023)25 - Extension to SSP for Clarithromycin Antibiotic

Two of the UK-wide Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Clarithromycin antibiotic products due to expire on 21 July 2023 have now been extended

PCA(P)(2023)24 - Extension to SSP issued for Progynova TS
PCA(P)(2023)24 - Extension to SSP issued for Progynova TS

The UK-wide active Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Progynova® (estradiol) TS 100 microgram patches, a hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

PCA(P)(2023)21 - SSP for Utrogestan® 100mg Capsules
PCA(P)(2023)21 - SSP for Utrogestan® 100mg Capsules

To advise of a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for Utrogestan® (micronised progesterone) 100mg capsules, from 19 May 2023 to 18 August 2023.

PCA(P)(2023)19 - SSP for Phenoxymethylpenicillin, Clarithromycin, and Sandrena® (Estradiol)
PCA(P)(2023)19 - SSP for Phenoxymethylpenicillin, Clarithromycin, and Sandrena® (Estradiol)

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.

PCA(P)(2023)14 - SSP for Estradot® (Estradiol Hemihydrate) 75mcg / 24hr Patch
PCA(P)(2023)14 - SSP for Estradot® (Estradiol Hemihydrate) 75mcg / 24hr Patch

To advise of a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for Estradot® (Estradiol hemihydrate) 75 micrograms / 24 hours patch, from 13 March 2023 to 5 May 2023.

PCA(P)(2023)13 - Extension to SSP for Phenoxymethylpenicillin Products and Sandrena®
PCA(P)(2023)13 - Extension to SSP for Phenoxymethylpenicillin Products and Sandrena®

This Circular advises NHS Boards and community pharmacy contractors that eight of the UK-wide Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Phenoxymethylpenicillin antibiotic products (SSPs 040-047) due to expire on 31 March 2023 have been extended until Friday 28 April 2023.

PCA(P)(2023)12 - SSP for Progynova TS 100mcg Patches
PCA(P)(2023)12 - SSP for Progynova TS 100mcg Patches

To advise of a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for Progynova® (Estradiol as hemihydrate) TS 100 microgram patch, from 28 March 2023 to 9 June 2023.

PCA(P)(2023)11 - SSP for Paracetamol Suppositories 120mg
PCA(P)(2023)11 - SSP for Paracetamol Suppositories 120mg

To advise of a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for Paracetamol suppositories 240mg, from 13 March 2023 to 5 May 2023.