Serious shortage protocols (SSPs)

In February 2019, the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 were changed to introduce SSPs.

Further changes came into force in July 2019, in the NHS (amendments relating to serious shortage protocols) Regulations 2019.

If the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) decide there is a serious shortage of a specific medicine or appliance, then an SSP may be issued.

The contractor must use their professional skill and judgement to decide, alongside medical experts, whether it's reasonable and appropriate to substitute the patient's prescribed order for the active SSP. The patient would also have to agree to the alternative supply for that dispensing month.

The allowance for VAT currently paid alongside product reimbursement for products supplied in accordance with SSPs, will stop being paid from 1 June 2023. Further information is available in the SSP VAT news article.

Contractors should check the table for the latest information for each SSP's validity, as they can change.

Active SSPs
Name of SSP \ ref no.	Start and end date	Supporting guidance
SSP058 Jext^® 300micrograms/0.3ml (1 in 1000) solution for injection auto-injector pen (PDF:200KB)	21 Aug 2023 to 15 Sep 2023 This SSP has been varied. The revised date is now 20 Oct 2023	Jext^® 300mcg auto-injector supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:122KB)
SSP057 Estradot^® 100mcg patches (PDF:218KB)	21 Aug 2023 to 08 Sep 2023 This SSP has been varied. The revised date is now 13 Oct 2023	Estradot^® 100mcg patches supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:117KB)
SSP056 Utrogestan® 100mg capsules (PDF:193KB)	19 May 2023 to 18 Aug 2023 This SSP has been varied. The revised date is now 29 Sep 2023	Utrogestan® 100mg capsules supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:123KB)
SSP054 Clarithromycin 250mg/5ml oral suspension (PDF:150KB)	6 Apr 2023 to 28 Apr 2023 This SSP has been varied. The revised date is now 17 Nov 2023	Clarithromycin 250mg/5ml oral suspension supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:115KB)
SSP053 Clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension (PDF:147KB)	6 Apr 2023 to 28 Apr 2023 This SSP has been varied. The revised date is now 17 Nov 2023	Clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:116KB)

Expired SSPs

Name of SSP \ ref no.	Start and end date	Supporting guidance
SSP055 Estradot^® 75mcg patches (PDF:216KB)	13 Apr 2023 to 5 May 2023	Estradot^® 75mcg patches supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:114KB)
SSP052 Progynova^® TS 100mcg patches (PDF:217KB)	28 Mar 2023 to 8 Sep 2023 This SSP was withdrawn early on 25 Aug 2023.	Progynova^® TS 100mcg patches supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:133KB)
SSP051 Paracetamol 240mg suppositories (PDF:142KB)	17 Mar 2023 to 12 May 2023	Paracetamol 240mg suppositories supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:111KB)
SSP050 Paracetamol 120mg suppositories (PDF:143KB)	16 Feb 2023 to 12 May 2023	Paracetamol 120mg suppositories supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:111KB)
SSP049 Estradot^® 100mcg patches (PDF:205KB)	25 Jan 2023 to 17 March 2023 This SSP was amended on 16 Feb 2023	Estradot^® 100mcg supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:114KB)
SSP048 Estradot^® 50mcg patches (PDF:205KB)	25 Jan 2023 to 24 February 2023 This SSP was amended on 16 Feb 2023	Estradot^® 50mcg supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:113KB)
SSP047 Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg tablets (PDF:272KB)	16 Dec 2022 to 12 May 2023 This SSP was amended on 31 Jan 2023	Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg tablets supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:238KB)
SSP046 Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free (PDF:274KB)	16 Dec 2022 to 12 May 2023 This SSP was amended on 31 Jan 2023	Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml sugar free supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:240KB)
SSP045 Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution (PDF:274KB)	16 Dec 2022 to 12 May 2023 This SSP was amended on 31 Jan 2023	Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:237KB)
SSP044 Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml oral solution sugar free (PDF:275KB)	16 Dec 2022 to 12 May 2023 This SSP was amended on 31 Jan 2023	Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml sugar free supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:239KB)
SSP043 Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml oral solution (PDF:273KB)	16 Dec 2022 to 12 May 2023 This SSP was amended on 31 Jan 2023	Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:237KB)
SSP042 Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution (PDF:143KB)	15 Dec 2022 to 12 May 2023	Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:123KB)
SSP041 Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free (PDF:145KB)	15 Dec 2022 to 12 May 2023	Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml sugar free supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:128KB)
SSP040 Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml oral solution sugar free (PDF:138KB)	15 Dec 2022 to 12 May 2023	Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml sugar free supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:116KB)
SSP039 atorvastatin (Lipitor^®)20mg chewable tablets (PDF:150KB)	23 Nov 2022 to 03 Feb 2023 This SSP was withdrawn early on 27 January 2023	Atorvastatin supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:118KB)
SSP038 Estraderm MX^® 75mcg patches substitution (PDF:214KB)	15 Nov 2022 to 27 Jan 2023	Estraderm MX^® 75mcg supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:114KB)
SSP037 Estraderm MX^® 50mcg patches substitution (PDF:214KB)	15 Nov 2022 to 13 Jan 2023 This SSP was withdrawn early on 23 Nov 2022	Estraderm MX^® 50mcg supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:114KB)
SSP036 Estraderm MX^® 100mcg patches (PDF:214KB)	08 Sep 2022 to 27 Jan 2023	Estraderm MX^® 100mcg supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:115KB)
SSP035 Estraderm MX^® 25mcg patches (PDF:213KB)	08 Sep 2022 to 14 Oct 2022	Estraderm MX^® 25mcg supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:114KB)
SSP034 Combisal^® 125mcg/25mcg inhalers (PDF:146KB)	22 Jul 2022 to 7 Oct 2022	Combisal^® 125mcg/25mcg inhalers supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:153KB)
SSP033 Paracetamol 120mg suppositories (PDF:139KB)	31 May 2022 to 26 Aug 2022	Paracetamol 120mg suppositories supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:111KB)
SSP032 Atorvastatin (Lipitor^®) 10mg chewable tablets (PDF:145KB)	31 May 2022 to 12 May 2023	Atorvastatin (Lipitor^®) 10mg chewable tablets supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:117KB)
SSP031 Estradiol (Sandrena^®) 0.5mg and 1mg gel sachets substitution and restriction (PDF:751KB)	19 May 2022 to 12 May 2023	Sandrena^® supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:185KB)
SSP030 Estradiol (Sandrena^®) 0.5mg and 1mg gel sachets substitution (PDF:751KB)	19 May 2022 to 12 May 2023	Sandrena^® supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:183KB)
SSP029 Estradiol (Sandrena^®) 0.5mg and 1mg gel sachets restriction (PDF:600KB)	19 May 2022 to 12 May 2023	Sandrena^® supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:130KB)
SSP028 Estradiol (Lenzetto^®)1.53mg/dose transdermal spray substitution and restriction (PDF:749KB)	19 May 2022 to 13 January 2023	Lenzetto^® supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:147KB)
SSP027 Estradiol (Lenzetto^®)1.53mg/dose transdermal spray substitution (PDF:748KB)	19 May 2022 to 13 January 2023	Lenzetto^® supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:146KB)
SSP026 Estradiol (Lenzetto^®)1.53mg/dose transdermal spray restriction (PDF:601KB)	19 May 2022 to 13 January 2023	Lenzetto^® supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:128KB)
SSP025 Estriol (Ovestin^® 1mg cream) 0.1% cream substitution and restriction (PDF:228KB)	19 May 2022 to 30 Nov 2022	Ovestin^® supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:152KB)
SSP024 Estriol (Ovestin^® 1mg cream) 0.1% cream substitution (PDF:226KB)	19 May 2022 to 30 Nov 2022	Ovestin^® supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:133KB)
SSP023 Estradiol (Oestrogel^® Pump-Pack 0.06% gel) 0.06% gel (750microgram per actuation) substitution and restriction (PDF:751KB)	19 May 2022 to 30 Nov 2022	Oestrogel^® supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:150KB)
SSP022 Estradiol (Oestrogel^® Pump-Pack 0.06% gel) 0.06% gel (750microgram per actuation) substitution (PDF:750KB)	19 May 2022 to 30 Nov 2022	Oestrogel^® supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:149KB)
SSP021 Premique^® low dose 0.3mg/1.5mg modified-release tablets (PDF:166KB)	29 Apr 2022 to 29 Jul 2022	Premique^® low dose supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:122KB)
SSP020 Ovestin^® 1mg cream restriction (PDF:166KB)	29 Apr 2022 to 30 Nov 2022	Ovestin^® supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:122KB)
SSP019 Oestrogel^® Pump-Pack 0.06% gel restriction (PDF:167KB)	29 Apr 2022 to 30 Nov 2022	Oestrogel^® supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:125KB)
SSP018 Salazopyrin^® 500mg tablets (PDF:244KB)	16 Mar 2022 to 25 Mar 2022	Salazopyrin^® supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:112KB)
SSP01 7 Atorvastatin (Lipitor^®) 20mg chewable tablets (PDF:122KB)	15 Feb 2022 to 5 Apr 2022	Atorvastatin supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:111KB)
SSP01 6 Atorvastatin (Lipitor^®) 10mg chewable tablets (PDF:123KB)	15 Feb 2022 to 18 Mar 2022	Atorvastatin supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:111KB)
SSP015 Paracetamol 120mg and 240mg suppositories (PDF:124KB)	25 Jan 2022 to 4 Mar 2022	Paracetamol supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:111KB)
SSP014 Salazopyrin^® 500mg EN tablets (PDF:160KB)	28 Feb 2022 to 1 Apr 2022 This SSP was reactivated.	Salazopyrin^® EN supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:111KB)
SSP014 Salazopyrin^® 500mg EN tablets (PDF:160KB)	26 Nov 2021 to 21 Jan 2022	Salazopyrin^® EN supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:135KB)
SSP013 Atorvastatin (Lipitor^®) 20mg chewable tablets (PDF:211KB)	18 Nov 2021 to 12 Jan 2022	Atorvastatin supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 134KB)
SSP012 Estradot® 75microgram patches (PDF:204KB)	29 Apr 2021 to 11 Jun 2021	Estradot® supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 120KB)
SSP011 Competact 15mg/850mg tablets (PDF:170KB)	24 Mar 2021 to 14 May 2021	Competact supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 113KB)
SSP010 Levothyroxine 12.5microgram tablets (PDF:143KB)	3 Feb 2021 to 1 Apr 2021	Levothyroxine supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 111KB)
SSP009 Fluoxetine 40mg capsules (PDF:139KB)	29 Jan 2021 to 17 May 2021	Fluoxetine supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 111KB)
SSP008 Salazopyrin 500mg EN tablets (PDF:151KB)	20 Oct 2020 to 8 Mar 2021	Salazopyrin EN supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 130KB)
SSP007 Fluoxetine 30mg capsules (PDF:144KB)	20 Oct 2020 to 28 Jul 2021	Fluoxetine supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 142KB)
SSP06 Fluoxetine 40mg capsules (PDF:135KB)	20 May 2020 to 2 Oct 2020	Fluoxetine supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 111KB)
SSP005 Fluoxetine 10mg tablets (PDF:134KB)	12 Mar 2020 to 31 March 2023	Fluoxetine supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 107KB)
SSP04 Haloperidol (Serenace) 500 microgram (mcg) capsules (PDF:107KB)	23 Dec 2019 to 23 Mar 2020	Haloperidol supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:125KB)
SSP03 Fluoxetine 40mg capsules (PDF:131KB)	3 Oct 2019 to 20 Nov 2019	Fluoxetine supporting endorsement guidance (PDF: 139KB)
SSP02 Fluoxetine 30mg capsules (PDF:124KB)	3 Oct 2019 to 18 Dec 2019 This SSP has been varied - the revised end date is now 18 Dec 19, and supply in accordance with this SSP is now 1 x 10mg Fluoxetine capsule PLUS 1 x 20mg Fluoxetine capsule.	Fluoxetine supporting endorsement guidance (PDF: 139KB)
SSP01 Fluoxetine 10mg capsules (PDF:151KB)	3 Oct 2019 to 25 Oct 2019	Fluoxetine supporting endorsement guidance (PDF: 139KB)

General guidance for SSPs

Serious Shortage Protocols Operational Guidance (PDF:178KB)Serious Shortage Protocols Questions and Answers (PDF:173KB)

Serious shortage protocols (SSPs)

Active SSPs

Expired SSPs

General guidance for SSPs

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