As football fans across the country get behind
England, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
(MHRA) wants to keep any Yellow Cards off the
pitch and instead let people know that Yellow
Cards can make an important impact in a very
different way by helping make medicines and medical devices
safer for everyone.
Every Yellow Card sent into the MHRA's Yellow Card
scheme about a suspected side effect with a medicine or
a safety issue with a medical device can really make a
difference and help improve their safety for
patients and the public.
Through the Yellow Card scheme one person's experience can help
protect many others. Every report adds to the evidence the MHRA
uses to spot possible safety concerns, investigate emerging
safety patterns and act when needed. A single Yellow
Card may seem small, but together these reports can change
product information, strengthen warnings, and help make
medicines and medical devices safer for everyone.
While England's players will be hoping to avoid a Yellow
Card in their matches, the MHRA
encourages everyone to fill in a Yellow
Card to report suspected side effects or safety
concerns from medicines and medical devices.
Lawrence Tallon, MHRA Chief Executive Officer
and co-founder of NHS Spurs, Official Supporters
Club, said:
We don't want many yellows for our lads on Saturday;
and definitely not another red! But when it comes
to medicines and medical device safety, Yellow Cards are
always welcome at the MHRA.
Every report counts and helps us build a better picture
of the safety of medicines and medical devices. Even
if you're not certain a medicine or device caused the
problem, your report could make a difference and help
keep patients safe.
Notes to Editors:
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For media enquiries and broadcast interviews about
the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme, please contact
thenewscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080
7651.
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You can find examples of where reporting to the Yellow Card
scheme has made a difference in ourcase
studies. One example is from a woman who, after
three months of being prescribed the contraceptive Yasmin,
suffered a large amount of hair loss (alopecia). She
suspected this might be due to the medicine she was
taking. She completed a Yellow Card
report online. Her Yellow Card report caused a review of
this issue that resulted in the patient information
leaflet being updated to include hair loss (alopecia) under
uncommon side effects'.
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You can also view information onwhat is being
reported.
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Anyone can report an issue with amedicine,vaccine,medical
device(includingsoftware, apps and
artificial intelligence),blood
productore-cigaretteto the
Yellow Card scheme.
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Integration with NHS login allows users to create new Yellow
Card scheme accounts using NHS login, or link to an existing
Yellow Card scheme account. This provides users with an
alternative login route using an existing username and
password, reducing the need to remember
an additional set of credentials. It also allows
for a seamless transition between
websites. See here.
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Speak to your doctor, pharmacist, or call NHS 111 if you are
worried about your health. If you're deaf and want to use the
phone service, you can use the NHS British Sign Language
service available in your country.
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The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
(MHRA)is responsible forregulating all medicines and medical
devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably
safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based
judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any
risks.
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The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health
and Social Care.
