The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) announced yesterday (April 27) that the Department of Health and Social Care (DH) had “further extended” 11 SSPs that were due to expire April 28.

The following SSPs for HRT medicine Sandrena and antibiotic Pen V (phenoxymethylpenicillin) now have a new expiry date of May 12:

• SSP029 for Sandrena 0.5mg and 1mg gel sachets – restriction

• SSP030 for Sandrena 0.5mg and 1mg gel sachets – substitution

• SSP031 for Sandrena 0.5mg and 1mg gel sachets – substitution and restriction

• SSP040 for Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml oral solution sugar free

• SSP041 for Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free

• SSP042 for Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution

• SSP043 for Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml oral solution

• SP044 for Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml oral solution sugar free

• SSP045 for Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution

• SSP046 for Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free

• SSP047 for Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg tablets

Read more: DH extends 11 HRT and penicillin SSPs until late April

The SSPs have been extended multiple times over the past few months, but PSNC said that this “will be the final extension” unless there are “unexpected changes to the supply situation”.

HRT shortages have plagued pharmacists for months, with the latest SSP issued just last month.

And it comes as the new HRT pre-payment certificate (PPC) – which the government has admitted will create additional “costs” for pharmacies – came into force April 1.

Antibiotic and statin SSPs extended

PSNC also yesterday announced the extension of two SSPs for Clarithromycin oral suspensions that were due to expire April 28.

The following SSPs now have a new expiry date of May 26:

• SSP053 Clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension

• SSP054 250mg/5ml oral suspension

Read more: Pharmacy time spent sourcing medicines more than doubles to 11 hours a week

And it also announced the extension of an SSP for statin medication Lipitor 10mg chewable tablets (SSP032), which was due to expire on April 28 but has been extended until May 12.