Steroid Emergency Card to support early recognition and treatment of adrenal crisis in adults
Written by admin on Friday 14th August 2020
A National Patient Safety Alert has been issued asking providers to ensure all eligible patients with adrenal insufficiency are issued with a Steroid Emergency Card
Recently issued national guidance promotes a new patient-held Steroid Emergency Card to help healthcare staff identify patients with adrenal insufficiency and provide information on emergency treatment if the patient is acutely ill, experiences trauma, surgery or other major stressors.
The alert asks providers to ensure all eligible patients are issued with a Steroid Emergency Card; and to put processes in place to check if a patient has a Steroid Emergency Card ahead of any emergency treatment, elective surgery, or other invasive procedures.
You can view the new Emergency Steroid Card on the following NHS England website page:
Action required:All community pharmacies should ensure they can source and supply Steroid Emergency Cards to replace those lost by patients or which become damaged The Emergency Steroid Card can be ordered from Primary Care Support England (PCSE online): |
More information is available on the Society for Endocrinology’s Adrenal Crisis information webpage: