Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

DHSC allows pharmacists to supply alternative medicines for Strep A, issues SSPs for 3 antibiotics

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has allowed pharmacists to supply alternative penicillin to treat Strep A. It has issued Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for three penicillin medicines.

“The SSPs will help mitigate local supply issues of oral penicillin and allow pharmacists to supply alternative forms of the medicine if they do not have the specific formulation stated on the prescription,” said DHSC.


SSPs have been issued across the UK for 3 penicillin medicines on Thursday (December 15.

“Issuing an SSP allows pharmacists to legally supply a specified alternative medicine, removing the need for the patient to return to the prescriber – which saves time in GP practices and inconvenience for patients.”

"Demand for penicillin has risen recently as it is used to treat strep A and scarlet fever, and the increased demand means that some pharmacists are experiencing temporary and localised supply issues and may not have the specific formulation listed on the prescription."

DHSC also said that there are 9 other SSPs currently active. They have been used to improve patients’ access to hormone replacement therapy drugs and were used extensively during the pandemic.

The SSPs apply to the following medicines:

  • phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free
  • phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution
  • phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml oral solution sugar free

Gordon Hockey, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC)’s Director, Legal, said: “We asked DHSC to introduce Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) to help mitigate the ongoing supply disruption affecting the availability of phenoxymethylpenicillin (Pen V) and are pleased to see that some have now been introduced.

"However, PSNC was not involved in the development of these protocols and our team is urgently clarifying some points to provide contractors with additional guidance and to seek assurances around the reimbursement of any alternatives supplied. We will issue our additional guidance as soon as possible.

More widely, PSNC has also been pressing DHSC to think broadly about what other measures could help to manage the current situation and consider the introduction of greater flexibilities, such as allowing pharmacists more professional discretion to amend prescriptions separate to SSPs.”

Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) in England, Thorrun Govind, is worried stock issues could significantly increase the workload for already stretched pharmacy teams and hopes "to see a change in the law which makes the whole process of supply of medicines easier and quicker for both pharmacists and patients".

She said: "We urge the Government to amend medicines legislation to allow pharmacists to make minor amendments to a prescription without any protocol being needed. At present a prescription can only be changed by the prescriber, which causes unnecessary workload for GPs and delays for patients."

“We want to see all pharmacists across the UK enabled to change prescriptions and be able to supply a different quantity, strength or formulation of a medicine (for example changing capsules to tablets) on a daily basis, to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy and the need for an SSP to be developed, signed and authorised by a Minister. In effect it would mean that pharmacists can help patients straight away – it would future proof the problem to some degree.

“Such substitutions have been standard routine practice for pharmacists in hospitals for years and are already used in Scotland. Patients in England and Wales should be able to benefit in the same way. None of these proposed amends would involve therapeutic substitution, so pharmacists would not be involved in changing treatments.

“Patients need timely access to medicines and pharmacists want to be better able to help people manage the supply of their medicines with consistency across the UK. We call on the Government to resolve this issue as soon as possible.”

More For You

MHRA approves Pfizer Hympavzi (marstacimab) for haemophilia treatment

Marstacimab is currently being assessed by NICE and the Scottish Medicines Consortium for use on the NHS

gettyimages

Marstacimab approved for haemophilia treatment, Pfizer aims for NHS availability

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved Hympavzi(marstacimab) to prevent or reduce bleeding in patients aged 12 years and older, weighing at least 35kg, who have severe haemophilia A or B.

Developed by Pfizer scientists, this groundbreaking treatment is the first of its kind to target a protein involved in the blood clotting process.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Pope Francis

Pope Francis at the Vatican on December 4, 2024.

Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj offers condolences to Catholic community following Pope Francis' passing

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader and president of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), has expressed heartfelt condolences to the Catholic community worldwide following the passing of Pope Francis on Monday.

In a formal letter addressed to the members of the Roman Catholic Church, Mahant Swami Maharaj conveyed the deep sorrow of the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu fellowship, acknowledging the Pope's passing as “a profound loss to the Catholic community and Christians around the world.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Pharmacies in Northern Ireland distribute free booklets to raise cancer awareness

Dr Anna Cullen, Public Health Registrar at the Public Health Agency and Clare Conroy, Community Pharmacist from Meigh Pharmacy in Co Down.

Photo credit: Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland

Pharmacies in Northern Ireland help raise cancer awareness

Community pharmacies across Northern Ireland are distributing a free information booklet to help raise public awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer and promote early diagnosis.

The initiative is part of the ‘Be Cancer Aware’ campaign, which has been running in pharmacies since April and will continue through May as part of the Living Well service.

Keep ReadingShow less
CPE invites pharmacy owners to share their views on new CPCF funding settlement

What do you think should be the next priority for the Government?

gettyimages

Pharmacy owners asked to share their views on new CPCF arrangements

Community Pharmacy England (CPE) is urging pharmacy owners to share their views on the new Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) funding settlement ahead of its next full Committee meeting, scheduled for 30 April–1 May.

The Committee said it had agreed to the settlement "reluctantly," acknowledging that it represents a significant shift after years of real-terms funding cuts, while admitting that it’s “still not sufficient to match the continued scale of pressures facing pharmacy businesses.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Homecare medicines services face many challenges beyond pharmacy's control

Homecare medicines services face many challenges beyond pharmacy's control

gettyimages

GPhC calls for industry-wide collaboration to strengthen homecare medicines services

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has called for industry-wide collaboration to improve homecare medicines services to ensure patients always receive their medicines when needed.

The call follows a recent review by the regulator, which identified several challenges facing homecare services, many of which were beyond the immediate control of the pharmacies providing them.

Keep ReadingShow less