Medicine allergy alert cards to save lives

People with allergies to medicines are being given cards to carry to warn medics of potential side-effects.

The wallet-sized cards could save the lives of patients in the city who are known to suffer serious reactions to certain medications. The scheme has been set up by NHS South West to ensure patients in the region are not inadvertently given such drugs in an emergency.

Known medicine allergy is associated with about 10 per cent of medication incidents reported to the NHS Litigation Authority.

The card is part of a new campaign launched for the first time across the South West designed to empower people to discuss their medication allergies with everyone who prescribes, dispenses or administers a medicine to them.

Dr Jill Loader, associate director of medicines management at the South West Strategic Health Authority, said: "This campaign is the result of an important partnership which will create greater awareness of medicine allergies and most importantly save lives.

"We want patients to feel better equipped to talk about this important part of their healthcare. This simple card helps them to do that."

The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) found that half the reported incidents of harm from known allergy reported between November 2003 and June 2006 were due to penicillin products whose names did not suggest that the product contained penicillin.

The allergy alert card therefore also lists common medications that patients do not realise contain penicillin (such as co-amoxiclav).