Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP)

Question 1

What is a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP)?

Answer 1

New legislation enabling ministers, in the event of a serious shortage (of a POM), to allow community pharmacies to dispense against a specific protocol instead of a Rx

Question 2

When are SSPs considered?

Answer 2

Where supply of a POM by the pharmaceutical industry is limited and is anticipated to have adverse effects on patients

Question 3

What changes may an SSP make to a patient’s prescription? (5)

Answer 3

• Alternative quantity
• Alternative form
• A different strength
• A generic equivalent (non-branded)
• A therapeutic equivalent (i.e. med with different API but same action)

Question 4

What must be obtained by pharmacists before changing a patient’s prescription according to the SSP?

Answer 4

Patient’s informed consent

Question 5

How must an SSP altered medication be processed?

Answer 5

• Must be labelled to show dispensing under an SSP, and identifying which one
• SSP+Batch number corresponding to Rx

Question 6

Do pharmacists have to abide by an SSP?

Answer 6

No- if they believe it is not suitable for the patient, they can offer the original Rx

Question 7

Must SSP Rx be endorsed differently to regular Rx?

Answer 7

Department of Health and Social Care (CHSC) approved new endorsement (‘SSP’ followed by 3 digit ref number applicable to the SSP)

e.g. SSP006 for Fluoxetine 30mg caps would be endorsed as ‘SSP 006’