Estradiol
(asked on 28th April 2025) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance he has provided to (a) GPs and (b) pharmacists to support patients unable to access Estradot patches.
There are over 70 hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products, and the vast majority are in good supply. Previously there have been issues with the supply of a limited number of these products, primarily driven by very sharp increases in demand. Following the Department’s intensive engagement with industry, the supply position has improved considerably. As part of this we have previously met with individual suppliers on a very regular basis. We have also hosted nine HRT supply roundtables since April 2022, with the most recent in September 2024, attended by suppliers, wholesalers, and community pharmacists, to provide updates on the supply position and the actions being taken to address them, to share data, and to discuss relevant policy developments and their potential impacts.
Currently, there are limited supplies of Estradot (estradiol) 37.5, 50, 75, and 100 microgram/24 hour patches, which may be available to local pharmacies to order. We are working with the sole supplier of Estradot to expedite further resupplies, where possible. Further deliveries of all patches are expected in May 2025, except for the 37.5 microgram/24 hour patches, which will be resupplied in July 2025. Alternative brands of the same medicine remain available.
We have issued comprehensive management guidance to the National Health Service, including Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Estradot 25, 50, 75, and 100 microgram/24 hour patches, allowing community pharmacists to supply the equivalent strength patch of an alternative brand without the need for a new prescription.
All SSPs are developed with the input of clinical and patient safety experts and include advice for pharmacists about any potential risks. Pharmacists may decide not to supply a patient in accordance with an SSP if they have any concerns. In the case of some SSPs, pharmacists are required to notify prescribers that they have supplied a patient in accordance with an SSP rather than the prescription. Pharmacists and prescribers are informed by an email to their NHS email address whenever a new SSP is issued, or changes are made to an SSP currently in effect. All currently active and expired SSPs are available to view on the NHS Business Services Authority’s website, at the following link: