The Department of Health and Social Care has issued new serious shortage protocols for two Estraderm products amid “ongoing” supply disruption. 

The SSPs, which were put in place yesterday, cover Estraderm MX 50cg and 75mcg patches, allowing pharmacists to substitute one Evorel 50mcg patch and one Evorel 75mcg patch respectively for each Estraderm patch that has been described.

The SSPs do not allow pharmacists to “double up strengths,” for example by supplying two 25mcg patches against a prescription for one 50mcg patch.

Both SSPs are currently set to expire on January 13 2023, but may be amended, revoked or extended at any time. 

The SSPs do not apply to the 25mcg and 100mcg products, which were covered by shortage protocols until mid-October but may now be dispensed as prescribed, according to the DHSC.