Prescribing of Adrenaline Auto Injectors (AAI)
26 September 2024
The following information can also be found on our website under the heading "Prescription Information"
PRESCRIBING OF ADRENALINE AUTO-INJECTORS (AAI)
The GPs at Trinity Court Surgery believe that providing the best quality care to our patients is our top priority. When a prescription is necessary our main considerations are effectiveness and safety.
To prioritise patient safety and the best value to the NHS, we are bound to prescribing from an approved list of medications within the Coventry and Warwickshire Area Prescribing Policy / NHS guidance and recommendations.
AAI devices should ONLY be prescribed for a person with a history or an acknowledged risk of an anaphylactic reaction. All patients should have two AAI devices prescribed, which they should carry at ALL times.
AAIs should be prescribed by brand name only as administration instructions vary. AAI will NOT be on repeat. Prescriptions will only be issued on basis of need i.e. evidence of expiry or use.
Spare AAIs for Schools
From 1 October 2017, schools in England have been allowed to purchase AAI devices without a prescription, for emergency use on children who are at risk of anaphylaxis but whose own device is not available or not working. Additional emergency AAIs for schools should preferentially be supplied through this route. Spare AAIs purchased by the school must only be spares and not be considered replacements for the pupil’s own AAI. The prescribed AAI must be with the child when travelling to and from school.
GPs should not be asked to prescribe spare / back-up AAIs to be held at schools.
Children and particularly teenagers should always carry their AAI(s) on their person at all times or they should be quickly and easily accessible at all times.
If schools do not allow the child to carry the AAI(s) with them in school, then the child’s supply of AAI(s) should be kept in a central place in a box marked clearly with the pupil’s name but NOT locked in a cupboard or an office where access is restricted.
Guidance for schools on creating a policy around the use of emergency AAI is available at Using emergency adrenaline auto-injectors in schools - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Further information can be found below:
Anaphylaxis - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
