A Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Venlafaxine 37.5mg modified-release tablets has expired, Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has said.
According to the pharmacy negotiator, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed that ‘sufficient stock’ of the tablets is ‘now available to meet normal demand’.
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The SSP – SSP038 – has therefore expired as of 23.59pm on Tuesday 22 July 2025.
Any prescriptions for Venlafaxine 37.5mg modified-release tablets after this date must be dispensed in accordance with the prescription, and SSP083 will no longer be valid for use.
Used for anxiety and depression, an SSP for the medication had been issued last month in response to ‘a significant ongoing disruption’ to supply. The SSP had initially been set to expire on 1 August 2025.
In an update about the SSP on its website, CPE also reminded contractors to follow SSP-specific guidance and ensure endorsements are applied correctly when making claims to the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).
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This comes as a ‘large number [of] SSP claims continue to be deemed invalid by the NHSBSA due to incorrect endorsements applied by PMR systems and/or pharmacy staff’, CPE said.
‘We recommend pharmacy owners to regularly reconcile the value of SSP fees on their payment schedules against the number of SSPs declared on the FP34C submission form,’ it added, pointing to its guidance on reconciliation of SSP claims.
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‘If there is a payment discrepancy and it is believed that the correct SSP endorsing guidance was followed, pharmacy owners may consider requesting a re-check of relevant prescriptions and the NHSBSA will be able to explain why the claim was unpaid or rectify the payments.’
Earlier this month, MPs found that medicine shortages were a ‘systematic threat’ to care, placing a huge burden on pharmacy teams and disrupting the delivery of treatment across England.
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