Medicine shortages

TAM (Treatments and Medicines) NHS Highland
NHS Highland

To find information quickly, use:

  1. Medicines shortage log (NHS Highland intranet access required). 
    An A-Z list of current shortages affecting NHS Highland with advice on how to manage them and links to the relevant national documents below. 

Other information resources: 

  1. SPS Medicines Supply Tool (Log in required. All prescribers & pharmacy professionals are encouraged to register)
    Specialist Pharmacy Service information on the management of current shortages for Primary and Secondary Care.
    Go to the 'Tools' tab and then click on the 'Medicines Supply' option. 
    NB: some of the recommended actions may not always be appropriate / relevant within the Scottish context.
  2. Central Alerting Sytem (CAS)
    NHS Scotland system for issuing patient safety alerts, important public health messages and other safety critical information, such as shortages information and Scottish SSPs. 
  3. Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPS)
    A list of Serious Shortages Protocols published by the NHS Business Services Authority for NHS England.
  4. NSS Medicines Supply Alert Notice (MSAN)
    Provides advice where there is specific Scottish context for an MSN.
    For published MSANs, see See the SHOW website. (To show only MSANs, use the search option and type MSAN).
  5. Medicine Supply Notification (MSN)
    Advice suitable for Primary Care produced by Community Pharmacy England.

Remember, if the medication is not available, alternative medications to consider may be listed in the Highland Formulary.

Known Formulary shortages

This is a list of formulary medicines that have long-term shortages for which alternative guidance is in place.

This information will be stated in the shortage log. See link above.

Shortage Formulary monograph Date listed
Fluorouracil (Efudix) cream

SACT (Systemic anticancer therapy) (Formulary) | Right Decisions (scot.nhs.uk)

 Oct 2024
Lidocaine with adrenaline

Local anaesthesia (Formulary) | Right Decisions (scot.nhs.uk)

 Oct 2024
ADHD & Methylphenidate

CNS stimulants and drugs used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (Formulary) | Right Decisions (scot.nhs.uk)

 Sept 2024
Pabrinex

Vitamin B group (Formulary) | Right Decisions (scot.nhs.uk)

 Aug 2024
Pancreatic enzymes Pancreatin (Formulary) | Right Decisions (scot.nhs.uk) Aug 2024
HRT Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) | Right Decisions (scot.nhs.uk) Dec 2024

Resolved shortages

Resolved Shortage Formulary monograph Date listed
Aztreonam

Other beta-lactam antibiotics (Formulary) | Right Decisions (scot.nhs.uk)

(Also: AMT160, 105, 180, 177, 166, 121, 119, 176)

 June 2024

Further information

See Medicines Shortages (NHS Highland intranet access required) for information on 

  • Secondary Care algorithm for managing medicine shortages. (NHS Highland intranet access required). 
  • NHS England Continuity of supply FAQs.

See: Primary Care algorithm for managing medicine shortages. (LINK TO BE ADDED)

SPS (Specialist Pharmacy Service) medicine supply tool

Specialist Pharmacy Service online Medicines Supply Tool provides up-to-date information about medicine supply issues. You can use it to search for information on medicine supply issues by drug class, issue severity, or by new, ongoing, or resolved. You can also check when a medicine is expected to be back in stock.

Tool content is populated and maintained by the DHSC and NHSE CMU Medicines Supply teams.

New issues week ending 3rd Jan 2025

Discontinuations:

Shortages:

Updates to continuing issues this week

Other updates

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 13/05/2022

Next review date: 31/05/2025

Author(s): Formulary Pharmacist.

Version: 3

Approved By: Medicines Management and Information

Reviewer name(s): Patricia Hannam.

Document Id: FCR106