Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the MHRA allows an AAI prescribed to someone else to be used on a person having an anaphylactic reaction.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Regulation 238 of the Human Medicines Regulation 2012 permits the administration of adrenaline by auto-injector for use in anaphylaxis for the purpose of saving a life. The regulation does not specifically provide for, or prevent the use of, an adrenaline auto-injector, supplied under a named prescription for another person, in an anaphylactic emergency.

Regulation 235 and Schedule 17 of the Human Medicines Regulation also permits the supply and administration of adrenaline without a prescription, including auto-injectors, to and by named categories of individuals that are suitably trained, and certain institutions and organisations, such as schools. The regulation does not prevent the use for administration of an auto-injector prescribed to someone else.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether spare AAIs can be used on someone in an anaphylactic emergency if they do not have a previously diagnosed allergy.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

While adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) are prescription only medicines, given by intramuscular injection, regulation 238 of the Human Medicine Regulations 2012 allows anyone to administer adrenaline for the purpose of saving a life in an emergency. This includes first-aid responders, although this does require the patient to have their AAI with them.

The decision to administer adrenaline is always subject to the pharmacist’s professional judgement. If a pharmacist administers adrenaline, they must also dial 999 for an ambulance, reporting a case of suspected anaphylaxis.

In June 2023, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with the support of allergy awareness advocates, launched a safety campaign to raise awareness of anaphylaxis and provide advice on the use of AAIs. The MHRA produced a toolkit of resources for health and social care professionals to support the safe and effective use of AAIs. Alongside this, the MHRA produced guidance, which states that prescribers should prescribe two AAIs to make sure patients always have the second dose and that those who are prescribed AAIs should carry two AAIs at all times.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the most up to date NHS advice is for the application of a second Adrenaline Auto-Injectors in an anaphylactic emergency.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

While adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) are prescription only medicines, given by intramuscular injection, regulation 238 of the Human Medicine Regulations 2012 allows anyone to administer adrenaline for the purpose of saving a life in an emergency. This includes first-aid responders, although this does require the patient to have their AAI with them.

The decision to administer adrenaline is always subject to the pharmacist’s professional judgement. If a pharmacist administers adrenaline, they must also dial 999 for an ambulance, reporting a case of suspected anaphylaxis.

In June 2023, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with the support of allergy awareness advocates, launched a safety campaign to raise awareness of anaphylaxis and provide advice on the use of AAIs. The MHRA produced a toolkit of resources for health and social care professionals to support the safe and effective use of AAIs. Alongside this, the MHRA produced guidance, which states that prescribers should prescribe two AAIs to make sure patients always have the second dose and that those who are prescribed AAIs should carry two AAIs at all times.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether a pharmacist can use an Adrenaline Auto-Injector from their pharmacy on someone having an anaphylactic emergency.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

While adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) are prescription only medicines, given by intramuscular injection, regulation 238 of the Human Medicine Regulations 2012 allows anyone to administer adrenaline for the purpose of saving a life in an emergency. This includes first-aid responders, although this does require the patient to have their AAI with them.

The decision to administer adrenaline is always subject to the pharmacist’s professional judgement. If a pharmacist administers adrenaline, they must also dial 999 for an ambulance, reporting a case of suspected anaphylaxis.

In June 2023, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with the support of allergy awareness advocates, launched a safety campaign to raise awareness of anaphylaxis and provide advice on the use of AAIs. The MHRA produced a toolkit of resources for health and social care professionals to support the safe and effective use of AAIs. Alongside this, the MHRA produced guidance, which states that prescribers should prescribe two AAIs to make sure patients always have the second dose and that those who are prescribed AAIs should carry two AAIs at all times.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether a teacher is authorised to use a pupils' prescribed Adrenaline Auto-Injector device on a different pupil in the event of an anaphylactic emergency.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Regulations allow, but do not mandate, schools to obtain and hold spare adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs). Since 1 October 2017, the Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2017 has allowed all schools to purchase AAI devices without a prescription, for use in an emergency situation. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published non-statutory guidance to accompany this legislative change, which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/using-emergency-adrenaline-auto-injectors-in-schools. This guidance gives advice to schools on the recognition and management of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis, and outlines when and how an AAI should be administered. The guidance states that children at risk of anaphylaxis should have their prescribed AAIs at school for use in an emergency, and that any AAIs held by a school should be considered a spare device, and not a replacement for a pupil’s own AAIs.

The department is working with DHSC and NHS England to consider how we might extend the availability of adrenaline auto-injectors in schools.

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Alberto Costa (Chair); Paula Barker; Gill Furniss; Gareth Snell;