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The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has warned the latest serious shortage protocol (SSP) extensions for Creon and Estradot has stretched their record as “Britain's longest running medicine shortages on record”.

The Department of Health and Social Care announced that SSPs for Creon 25000 gastro-resistant capsules and Estradot 50 micrograms, 75 micrograms, 100 micrograms and 25 micrograms 24-hour patches have been extended until Friday January 8, 2027, having expired today.

The current SSP for Creon 10000 gastro-resistant capsules, which was issued in August and was its eighth in 21 months, expires at 11:59pm today. 

“It is deeply depressing for pharmacies and patients alike that Creon and Estradot have now had their unhappy title extended as being Britain's longest running medicine shortage on record,” said NPA chair Olivier Picard. "Creon is a lifeline to patients that depend on it, helping people with Pancreatic Cancer and Cystic Fibrosis digest food.”

Picard said NPA members told it patients were being “forced to skip meals and travel many miles to source supplies”.

In September, he called on health secretary Yvette Cooper to urgently set up a taskforce to address “fragility” in the global medicines supply chain. Picard insisted the latest SSPs were “an alarm call” to Cooper to act.

“We have been clear for many years that although supply problems are frustrating to both patients and pharmacies, they can also present a serious risk to patient safety,” he said.

Picard also urged Labour to “urgently” publish the outcome of a public consultation to allow pharmacists to substitute prescription drugs that are out of stock for safe alternative strengths or formulation.

The Government consultation closed on December 11, 2025. Independent Community Pharmacist has contacted the Department of Health and Social Care for a response.

Picard said allowing pharmacies to make substitutions to prescriptions when medicines are out of stock will prevent patients having to go back to their GP.