DH extends three serious shortage protocols for HRT products as two expire
The Department of Health and Social Care (DH) has extended three serious shortage protocols (SSPs) for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products, while two have expired.
Three SSPs for Sandrena 0.5mg and 1mg gel sachets have been extended until February 28, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee told contractors last week.
It comes as two SSPs covering Estraderm MX 100mcg and 75mcg patches expired on Friday (January 27).
Meanwhile, an SSP for the statin Lipitor in its 10mg chewable tablet form has been extended to March 13, while an SSP for Lipitor 20mg chewable tablets expired on Friday.
A full list of the changes to the SSPs can be found on PSNC’s website.
Read more: ‘Significant ongoing disruption’: DH issues two new SSPs for HRT
C+D reported last week (January 26) that the DH had issued two new HRT SSPs among “significant ongoing disruption”. Estradot 50mcg and 100mcg patches were added to a list of SSPs that are not due to expire until February 17.
It comes as pharmacists continue to endure HRT supply problems after months of problems that lead the DH to create a taskforce to deal with the ongoing crisis.
The HRT taskforce was disbanded in August when the DH said that the products had seen a “very substantial increase”.
However, pharmacists C+D spoke to at the time said they were still having difficulty accessing some products
