Serious shortage protocols (SSPs) for pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy drug Creon and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medication Estradot have been extended further, the Department of Health and Social Care (DH) announced last week.
The SSPs affecting Creon 25000 gastro-resistant capsules, as well as 25 mcg, 50 mcg, 75 mcg and 100 mcg Estradot transdermal patches, have been extended to October 2.
Read more: Serious shortage protocols for Creon and HRT patches extended
The SSP for Creon 10000 gastro-resistant capsules has also been extended to August 7.
All six SSPs were due to expire on July 10.
The DH also extended the SSP for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor Ramipril to July 24 back in May.
Prescribing guidance
SSPs are issued when the DH decides there is a serious shortage of a specific medicine.
The NHS Business Services Authority noted that pharmacists must use their professional skill and judgment to decide “whether it’s reasonable and appropriate to substitute the patient’s prescribed order for the active SSP”.
It added that the patient must also agree to the alternative supply for that dispensing month.
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It comes after the SSPs for Estradot patches and Creon were extended in January.
This is despite the DH claiming in October that it had managed to “secure additional volumes” of Creon for the remainder of the year.
