Month in review
October 2026: UK medicine shortages
Every change to the UK medicines supply that entered the public record in October 2026 — 13 events across 5 categories, each linked to its source. A citable record of October 2026. A record made after the month ended can still add an entry dated in it; an entry that came from a later NHSBSA register check is marked with the date of that check.
New supply notifications · 3
| Date | Medicine / notice | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 2026 | Medicine Supply Notification: Cilostazol 50mg and 100mg tablets | MSN/2026/050 |
| 12 Oct 2026 | Medicine Supply Notification: FemSeven Conti® (estradiol 50micrograms and levonorgestrel 7micrograms/24hours) transdermal patches | MSN/2026/048 |
| 06 Oct 2026 | Medicine Supply Notification: Lacidipine 2mg and 4mg tablets | MSN/2026/046 |
Safety alerts · 2
| Date | Medicine / notice | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Oct 2026 | National Patient Safety Alert: StatStrip® beta-ketone testing strips (Nova Biomedical) | NatPSA/2026/007/NSDR |
| 01 Oct 2026 | National Patient Safety Alert: Levemir® (insulin detemir) FlexPen® and Levemir® (insulin detemir) Penfill® | MSN/2025/036 |
SSP extensions · 5
| Date | Medicine / notice | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 02 Oct 2026 | SSP extended — now to 08 Jan 2027 | SSP079 |
| 02 Oct 2026 | SSP extended — now to 08 Jan 2027 | SSP081 |
| 02 Oct 2026 | SSP extended — now to 08 Jan 2027 | SSP080 |
| 02 Oct 2026 | SSP extended — now to 08 Jan 2027 | SSP082 |
| 02 Oct 2026 | SSP extended — now to 08 Jan 2027 | SSP061 |
SSPs ended · 1
| Date | Medicine / notice | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 02 Oct 2026 | SSP expired | SSP060 |
Discontinuations · 2
| Date | Medicine / notice | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Oct 2026 | National Patient Safety Alert: StatStrip® beta-ketone testing strips (Nova Biomedical) | NatPSA/2026/007/NSDR |
| 01 Oct 2026 | National Patient Safety Alert: Levemir® (insulin detemir) FlexPen® and Levemir® (insulin detemir) Penfill® | MSN/2025/036 |
Cite as: “UK Shortage Index — October 2026 in review, ShortageSignal (shortagesignal.co.uk/uk-shortage-index/2026-10), by Doctor Data Ltd.” Coverage is England-first and reflects notifications relayed publicly; the archive window means very early months may under-count resolved notices. Not an official NHS or DHSC service.