Extension to SSP058 Jext® 300micrograms/0.3ml (1 in 1000) solution for injection auto-injector pen

Update 19/09/23 – The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has provided an update on the Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Jext^® 300micrograms/0.3ml (1 in 1000) solution for injection auto-injector pen (SSP058) was due to expire 20 October 2023 but has been further extended to Friday 27 October 2023.

Update 08/09/23 – The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has provided an update on the Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Jext^® 300micrograms/0.3ml (1 in 1000) solution for injection auto-injector pen (SSP058) was due to expire 8 September 2023 but has been further extended to Friday 20 October 2023.

In response to a significant ongoing disruption to the supply of Jext^® 300micrograms/0.3ml (1 in 1000) solution for injection auto-injector pen, a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) has been issued by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Effective today 21st August 2023,  SSP058 provides that for every Jext^® 300micrograms/0.3ml (1 in 1000) solution for injection auto-injector pen originally prescribed one EpiPen^® 300micrograms/0.3ml (1 in 1000) solution for injection autoinjector pen must be supplied. SSP058, authorised by the Secretary of State, has been developed by clinicians and provides pharmacists with procedures to follow in providing this suitable alternative product to help reduce the number of patients having to return to their prescriber for a replacement prescription.

The SSP may be amended or revoked at any time but currently expires on Friday 20 October 2023 – we will update pharmacy owners on any changes.

Community Pharmacy England previously reported that the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received a number of EPS SSP claims which did not meet the requirements for a valid SSP claim. A large number SSP claims continue to be deemed invalid by the NHSBSA due to incorrect endorsements applied by PMR systems and/or pharmacy staff. 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. Please refer to our new guidance on reconciliation of SSP claims.

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.

Pharmacy teams are reminded to follow the SSP-specific guidance to ensure endorsements are applied correctly, and we also have guidance supporting teams raising PMR-specific claiming issues with their suppliers. Click here for more Top Tips on claiming for SSPs. 

Key points relating to SSP058

• • This protocol does not allow for the quantity supplied to be less than the number of days prescribed on original prescription.
  • There are no SSPs in place for other strengths of Jext^® auto-injector pens – these strengths are not affected by supply disruptions and should continue to be dispensed in accordance with the prescriptions
  • SSP058 only allows the substitution of Jext^® 300micrograms/0.3ml (1 in 1000) solution for injection auto-injector pen.
  • Ensure that patients considered unsuitable for inclusion are promptly referred to their prescriber for further advice.
  • The supervising pharmacist should ensure that the patient’s prescriber is notified when supplying a patient in accordance with this SSP.
  • The supervising pharmacist, using their professional judgement determines that swapping the patient to a different brand of a auto-injector pen would not be suitable for the patient.
  • Supplying to patients weighing below 26kg would represent an off-license use of the medicine. However, if the patient weighs less than 26kg, the prescriber will have prescribed Jext^® 300micrograms/0.3ml (1 in 1000) solution for injection auto-injector pen as an off-licensed use as its licensed use is for patients weighing 30 kilograms or above and therefore the pharmacist may consider it appropriate to supply the medicine off license. Please see the BNF guidance: https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/adrenaline-epinephrine/.
  • For endorsing requirements please refer to NHSBSA’s supporting guidance for SSP058.

Pharmacists must exercise their professional judgement to ensure the alternative products are suitable for the patient.

Pharmacy owners will receive an email to their shared NHSmail account informing them of this SSP and pharmacy teams are advised to read the documentation for SSP058 in full and to implement the protocol with immediate effect. Pharmacists are required to read and comply with the requirements outlined within the individual SSP as published on the NHSBSA website for SSP058: Jext^® 300micrograms/0.3ml (1 in 1000) solution for injection auto-injector pen.

Reimbursement

Reimbursement is for the medicine supplied in accordance with the SSP and not the originally prescribed medicine i.e. in this instance pharmacy owners will be reimbursed the reimbursement price for EpiPen^® 300micrograms/0.3ml (1 in 1000) solution for injection autoinjector pen. Supply in accordance with the SSP will result in the following fees being paid to the pharmacy owner and products supplied in accordance with an SSP is to be considered VAT zero-rated:

• One Single Activity fee (currently £1.27)
• One SSP fee (£5.35)

Support in implementing the SSP

The following resources have been developed to support pharmacy teams in using these protocols.

Current versions of SSPs

Serious Shortage Protocols Operational Guidance

Serious Shortage Protocols Questions & Answers

Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) Endorsing Factsheet

Briefing 023/19: Serious Shortage Protocols – A guide for community pharmacy teams

Background information on SSPs

Further information on what SSPs are and when they may be used is available via the links below.

Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) on-demand webinar

Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) webpage