The aim of this Alert is to improve patient safety by empowering patients as they take an active role in their treatment with insulin.
This will be achieved with a patient information booklet and a patient-held record (the Insulin Passport) which documents the patient’s current insulin products and enables a safety check for prescribing, dispensing and administration. The Insulin Passport will complement existing systems for ensuring key information is accessed across healthcare sectors.
NHS organisations should ensure that by 31 August 2012:
1. Adult patients on insulin therapy receive a patient information booklet and an Insulin Passport to help provide accurate identification of their current insulin products and provide essential information across healthcare sectors.
2. Healthcare professionals and patients are informed how the Insulin Passport and associated patient information can be used to improve safety.
3. When prescriptions of insulin are prescribed, dispensed or administered, healthcare professionals cross-reference available information to confirm the correct identity of insulin products.
4. Systems are in place to enable hospital inpatients to self-administer insulin where feasible and safe.
Ordering information
Supplies of the Insulin Passport and patient booklet will be available from June 2011 (in English and in Welsh) from the current NHS Forms and Print Contract.
Orders can be placed as follows:
GP Practices should order via their PCT or Agency Stores, Hospitals and other organisations should place their orders in the usual way for national forms, www.nhsforms.co.uk or email nhsforms@mmm.com.
This contract is managed for the NHS by Kay Ellermeyer, National Programme Manager, NHS Print and Forms. You can contact her via email on kay.ellermeyer@nhs.net.
