Current Active Shortages
Estradot® 25 microgram patches
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estradot® 25 microgram patches (PDF:218KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 03 April 2025
Estradot® 100 microgram patches
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estradot® 100 microgram patches (PDF:215KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 19 December 2024
Estradot® 75 microgram patches
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estradot® 75 microgram patches (PDF:219KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 19 December 2024
Estradot® 50 microgram patches
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estradot® 50 microgram patches (PDF:219KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 19 December 2024
Estradot® 100mcg patches
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estradot® 100mcg patches (PDF:218KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 21 Aug 2023
Utrogestan® 100mg capsules
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Utrogestan® 100mg capsules (PDF:193KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 19 May 2023
Estradot® 75mcg patches
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estradot® 75mcg patches (PDF:216KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 13 Apr 2023
Progynova® TS 100mcg patches
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Progynova® TS 100mcg patches (PDF:217KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 28 Mar 2023
Estradot® 100mcg patches
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estradot® 100mcg patches (PDF:205KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 25 Jan 2023
Estradot® 50mcg patches
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estradot® 50mcg patches (PDF:205KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 25 Jan 2023
Estraderm MX® 75mcg patches substitution
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estraderm MX® 75mcg patches substitution (PDF:214KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 15 Nov 2022
Estraderm MX® 50mcg patches substitution
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estraderm MX® 50mcg patches substitution (PDF:214KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 15 Nov 2022
Estraderm MX® 100mcg patches
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estraderm MX® 100mcg patches (PDF:214KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 08 Sep 2022
Estraderm MX® 25mcg patches
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estraderm MX® 25mcg patches (PDF:213KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 08 Sep 2022
Estradiol (Sandrena®) 0.5mg and 1mg gel sachets substitution and restriction
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estradiol (Sandrena®) 0.5mg and 1mg gel sachets substitution and restriction (PDF:751KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 19 May 2022
Estradiol (Sandrena®) 0.5mg and 1mg gel sachets substitution
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estradiol (Sandrena®) 0.5mg and 1mg gel sachets substitution (PDF:751KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 19 May 2022
Estradiol (Sandrena®) 0.5mg and 1mg gel sachets restriction
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estradiol (Sandrena®) 0.5mg and 1mg gel sachets restriction (PDF:600KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 19 May 2022
Estradiol (Lenzetto®)1.53mg/dose transdermal spray substitution and restriction
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estradiol (Lenzetto®)1.53mg/dose transdermal spray substitution and restriction (PDF:749KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 19 May 2022
Estradiol (Lenzetto®)1.53mg/dose transdermal spray substitution
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estradiol (Lenzetto®)1.53mg/dose transdermal spray substitution (PDF:748KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 19 May 2022
Estradiol (Lenzetto®)1.53mg/dose transdermal spray restriction
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estradiol (Lenzetto®)1.53mg/dose transdermal spray restriction (PDF:601KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 19 May 2022
Estradiol (Oestrogel® Pump-Pack 0.06% gel) 0.06% gel (750microgram per actuation) substitution and restriction
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estradiol (Oestrogel® Pump-Pack 0.06% gel) 0.06% gel (750microgram per actuation) substitution and restriction (PDF:751KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives wit...
Expected resolution: 19 May 2022
Estradiol (Oestrogel® Pump-Pack 0.06% gel) 0.06% gel (750microgram per actuation) substitution
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estradiol (Oestrogel® Pump-Pack 0.06% gel) 0.06% gel (750microgram per actuation) substitution (PDF:750KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral...
Expected resolution: 19 May 2022
Estradot® 75microgram patches
Serious Shortage NHSBSA SSPSerious Shortage Protocol active for Estradot® 75microgram patches (PDF:204KB). Pharmacists may supply alternatives without GP referral.
Expected resolution: 29 Apr 2021
Rivastigmine 4.6mg/24hours and 9.5mg/24hours transdermal patches
high DHSC MSNLearn more about community pharmacy Contact Us Search Suggestions ...
Estradiol (Estradot®) transdermal patches
medium DHSC MSNLearn more about community pharmacy Contact Us Search Suggestions ...
Fentanyl (Durogesic® DTrans®) patches
medium DHSC MSNLearn more about community pharmacy Contact Us Search Suggestions ...
Buprenorphine (Reletrans® ) 5micrograms/hour and 15micrograms/hour transdermal patches
medium DHSC MSNLearn more about community pharmacy Contact Us Search Suggestions ...
Buprenorphine (Relevtec®) 35micrograms/hour, 52.5micrograms/hour, 70micrograms/hour transdermal patches Buprenorphine (Bupeaze®) 52.5micrograms/hour transdermal patches
medium DHSC MSNLearn more about community pharmacy Contact Us Search Suggestions ...
Estradiol (Progynova® TS) 50micrograms/24hours and 100micrograms/24hours transdermal patches
medium DHSC MSNLearn more about community pharmacy Contact Us Search Suggestions ...
Oxybutynin (Kentera® ) 3.9mg/24hours transdermal patches
Medium DHSC MSNLearn more about community pharmacy Contact Us Search Suggestions ...
What to Do If Your Medication Is Affected
- Ask your pharmacist about alternative HRT brands or formulations
- Speak to your GP about switching between patches, gels, and tablets
- Check the NHSBSA SSP list for authorised alternatives your pharmacist can dispense
- Don't stockpile — request your usual prescription amount
- Contact the British Menopause Society helpline for guidance
How MedWatch Helps
MedWatch monitors official UK government data sources daily, including DHSC Medicine Supply Notifications and NHSBSA Serious Shortage Protocols. We alert you before your pharmacy runs out — giving you time to plan ahead with your GP or pharmacist.
Our service is completely free for individual patients. Sign up, add your medications, and we'll email you the moment a shortage affects you.
This page is automatically updated when new shortage data is published. Last checked: 8 February 2026.