The endorsement requirements for products supplied in accordance with a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) have been updated, as per Clause 9E, Part II of the June 2021 Drug Tariff
More information is available in our 'Updated endorsement guidance for SSP products' news article.
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.
Contractors should check the tables for the latest information for each SSP's validity, as they can change.
SSP updates
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
| Name of SSP \ ref no. | Start and end date | Supporting guidance |
|---|---|---|
| SSP018 Salazopyrin® 500mg tablets (PDF:244KB) | 16 Mar 2022 to 25 Mar 2022 | Salazopyrin® supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:112KB) |
| SSP014 Salazopyrin® 500mg EN tablets (PDF:160KB) |
26 Nov 2021 to 20 Dec 2021 This SSP has been reactivated from 28 Feb 2022 - the revised end date is now 1 Apr 2022 |
Salazopyrin® EN supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:111KB) |
| SSP017 Atorvastatin (Lipitor®) 20mg chewable tablets (PDF:122KB) |
15 Feb 2022 to 11 Mar 2022 This SSP has been varied - the revised end date is now 5 Apr 2022 |
Atorvastatin supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:111KB) |
| SSP016 Atorvastatin (Lipitor®) 10mg chewable tablets (PDF:123KB) |
15 Feb 2022 to 25 Feb 2022 This SSP has been varied - the revised end date is now 18 Mar 2022 |
Atorvastatin supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:111KB) |
| SSP015 Paracetamol 120mg and 240mg suppositories (PDF:124KB) |
25 Jan 22 to 18 Feb 22 This SSP has been varied - the revised end date is now 4 Mar 2022 |
Paracetamol supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:111KB) |
| SSP005 Fluoxetine 10mg tablets (PDF:134KB) |
12 Mar 20 to 31 Mar 21 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 13 May 2022 Please note that from 1 Feb 2022 for endorsement purposes the reference number of this SSP has been changed to SSP 005 to reflect updated guidance |
Fluoxetine supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 107KB) |
February 2022
| Name of SSP \ ref no. | Start and end date | Supporting guidance |
|---|---|---|
| SSP014 Salazopyrin® 500mg EN tablets (PDF:160KB) |
26 Nov 2021 to 20 Dec 2021 This SSP has been reactivated from 28 Feb 2022 - the revised end date is now 22 Apr 2022 |
Salazopyrin® EN supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:111KB) |
| SSP017 Atorvastatin (Lipitor®) 20mg chewable tablets (PDF:122KB) |
15 Feb 2022 to 11 Mar 2022 This SSP has been varied - the revised end date is now 30 Mar 2022 |
Atorvastatin supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:111KB) |
| SSP016 Atorvastatin (Lipitor®) 10mg chewable tablets (PDF:123KB) |
15 Feb 2022 to 25 Feb 2022 This SSP has been varied - the revised end date is now 18 Mar 2022 |
Atorvastatin supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:111KB) |
| SSP015 Paracetamol 120mg and 240mg suppositories (PDF:124KB) |
25 Jan 22 to 18 Feb 22 This SSP has been varied - the revised end date is now 4 Mar 2022 |
Paracetamol supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:111KB) |
| SSP005 Fluoxetine 10mg tablets (PDF:134KB) |
12 Mar 20 to 31 Mar 21 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 13 May 2022 Please note that from 1 Feb 2022 for endorsement purposes the reference number of this SSP has been changed to SSP 005 to reflect updated guidance |
Fluoxetine supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 107KB) |
January 2022
| Name of SSP \ ref no. | Start and end date | Supporting guidance |
|---|---|---|
| SSP015 Paracetamol 120mg and 240mg suppositories (PDF:124KB) | 25 Jan 22 to 18 Feb 22 | Paracetamol supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:111KB) |
|
26 Nov 21 to 20 Dec 21 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 21 Jan 2022 |
Salazopyrin® EN supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:135KB) | |
| SSP013 Atorvastatin (Lipitor®) 20mg chewable tablets (PDF:211KB) |
18 Nov 21 to 12 Jan 22 |
Atorvastatin supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 134KB) |
| SSP005 Fluoxetine 10mg tablets (PDF:134KB) |
12 Mar 20 to 31 Mar 21 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 13 May 2022 Please note that from 1 Feb 2022 for endorsement purposes the reference number of this SSP has been changed to SSP 005 to reflect updated guidance |
Fluoxetine supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 107KB) |
November 2021
| Name of SSP \ ref no. | Start and end date | Supporting guidance |
|---|---|---|
| SSP014 Salazopyrin® 500mg EN tablets (PDF:160KB) |
26 Nov 21 to 20 Dec 21 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 21 Jan 2022 |
Salazopyrin® EN supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:135KB) |
| SSP013 Atorvastatin (Lipitor®) 20mg chewable tablets (PDF:211KB) |
18 Nov 21 to 12 Jan 22 |
Atorvastatin supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 134KB) |
| SSP05 Fluoxetine 10mg tablets (PDF:134KB) |
12 Mar 20 to 31 Mar 21 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 11 Feb 2022 |
Fluoxetine supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 112KB) |
August 2021
| Name of SSP \ ref no. | Start and end date | Supporting guidance |
|---|---|---|
| SSP05 Fluoxetine 10mg tablets (PDF:134KB) |
12 Mar 20 to 31 Mar 21 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 11 Feb 2022 |
Fluoxetine supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 113KB) |
June 2021
| Name of SSP \ ref no. | Start and end date | Supporting guidance |
|---|---|---|
| SSP012 Estradot® 75microgram patches (PDF:204KB) |
29 Apr 21 to 4 Jun 21 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 11 Jun 21 |
Estradot® supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 120KB) |
| SSP007 Fluoxetine 30mg capsules (PDF:144KB) |
20 Oct 20 to 22 Dec 20 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 28 July 2021 |
Fluoxetine supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 142KB) |
| SSP05 Fluoxetine 10mg tablets (PDF:134KB) |
12 Mar 20 to 31 Mar 21 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 13 Aug 21 |
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
| Name of SSP \ ref no. | Start and end date | Supporting guidance |
|---|---|---|
| SSP010 Levothyroxine 12.5microgram tablets (PDF:143KB) |
3 Feb 21 to 5 Mar 21 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 12 Mar 21 |
Levothyroxine supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 111KB) |
| SSP009 Fluoxetine 40mg capsules (PDF:139KB) |
29 Jan 21 to 31 Mar 21 |
Fluoxetine supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 111KB) |
| SSP008 Salazopyrin 500mg EN tablets (PDF:151KB) |
20 Oct 20 to 4 Dec 20 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 8 Mar 2021 |
Salazopyrin EN supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 130KB) |
| SSP007 Fluoxetine 30mg capsules (PDF:144KB) |
20 Oct 20 to 22 Dec 20 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 12 Mar 2021 |
Fluoxetine supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 130KB) |
| SSP05 Fluoxetine 10mg tablets (PDF:134KB) |
12 Mar 20 to 31 Mar 21 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 31 Mar 2021. |
January 2021
| Name of SSP \ ref no. | Start and end date | Supporting guidance |
|---|---|---|
| SSP009 Fluoxetine 40mg capsules (PDF:139KB) |
29 Jan 21 to 31 Mar 21 |
Fluoxetine supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 111KB) |
| SSP008 Salazopyrin 500mg EN tablets (PDF:151KB) |
20 Oct 20 to 4 Dec 20 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 26 Feb 2021 |
Salazopyrin EN supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 130KB) |
| SSP007 Fluoxetine 30mg capsules (PDF:144KB) |
20 Oct 20 to 22 Dec 20 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 12 Mar 2021 |
Fluoxetine supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 130KB) |
| SSP05 Fluoxetine 10mg tablets (PDF:134KB) |
12 Mar 20 to 31 Mar 21 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 31 Mar 2021. |
October 2020
| Name of SSP \ ref no. | Start and end date | Supporting guidance |
|---|---|---|
| SSP008 Salazopyrin 500mg EN tablets (PDF:151KB) |
20 Oct 20 to 4 Dec 20 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 26 Feb 2021 |
Salazopyrin EN supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 130KB) |
| SSP007 Fluoxetine 30mg capsules (PDF:144KB) |
20 Oct 20 to 22 Dec 20 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 12 Mar 2021 |
Fluoxetine supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 130KB) |
| SSP06 Fluoxetine 40mg capsules (PDF:135KB) |
20 May 20 to 2 Oct 20 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 2 Oct 2020. |
September 2020
| Name of SSP \ ref no. | Start and end date | Supporting guidance |
|---|---|---|
| SSP06 Fluoxetine 40mg capsules (PDF:135KB) |
20 May 20 to 2 Oct 20 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 2 Oct 2020. |
Fluoxetine supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 111KB) |
|
12 Mar 20 to 31 Mar 21 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 31 Mar 2021. |
Fluoxetine supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF: 103KB) |
March 2020
| Name of SSP \ ref no. | Start and end date | Supporting guidance |
|---|---|---|
|
SSP04 Haloperidol (Serenace) 500 microgram (mcg) capsules (PDF:107KB) |
23 Dec 19 to 23 Mar 20 | Haloperidol supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:125KB) |
December 2019
| Name of SSP \ ref no. | Start and end date | Supporting guidance |
|---|---|---|
| SSP04 Haloperidol (Serenace) 500 microgram (mcg) capsules (PDF:107KB) | 23 Dec 19 to 23 Mar 20 | Haloperidol supporting guidance plus Q&A (PDF:125KB) |
|
3 Oct 19 to 18 Dec 19 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) |
November 2019
| Name of SSP \ ref no. | Start and end date | Supporting guidance |
|---|---|---|
| SSP02 Fluoxetine 30mg capsules (PDF:124KB) |
3 Oct 19 to 18 Dec 19 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) |
| SSP03 Fluoxetine 40mg capsules (PDF:131KB) |
3 Oct 19 to 31 Oct 19 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 20 Nov 19. This SSP was withdrawn on 20 Nov 19 at 23.55. |
October 2019
The Serious Shortage Protocols for fluoxetine 30mg capsules and fluoxetine 40mg capsules are being varied to extend the end date, which was previously 31 October 2019.
| Name of SSP \ ref no. | Start and end date | Supporting guidance |
|---|---|---|
| SSP01 Fluoxetine 10mg capsules (PDF:151KB) |
3 Oct 19 to 31 Oct 19 This SSP was withdrawn on 25 Oct 19 at 23:55. |
Fluoxetine supporting endorsement guidance (PDF: 139KB) |
| SSP02 Fluoxetine 30mg capsules (PDF:131KB) |
3 Oct 19 to 31 Oct 19 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 20 Nov 19. |
|
| SSP03 Fluoxetine 40mg capsules (PDF:131KB) |
3 Oct 19 to 31 Oct 19 This SSP has been varied – the revised end date is now 20 Nov 19. |
General guidance for SSPs
Serious Shortage Protocols Operational Guidance (PDF:178KB)Serious Shortage Protocols Questions and Answers (PDF:173KB)