This week is the annual #MedSafetyWeek campaign with the theme of ‘the importance of using medicines in the right way to prevent side effects, and to report side effects when they do occur’
The focus is on the importance of reporting suspected adverse reactions to medicines and vaccines, but we are also encouraging the reporting of suspected problems with medical devices via the Yellow Card Scheme.
What is the Yellow Card Scheme?
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) runs the Yellow Card scheme, which collects and monitors information on suspected safety concerns involving healthcare products, like a side effect with a medicine or an adverse medical device incident. The scheme relies on voluntary reporting of problems to a healthcare product by the public (including patients, parents, and care givers) as well as from healthcare professionals. The scheme also collects suspected safety concerns involving defective (not of an acceptable quality), falsified or fake healthcare products.
You, as the patient or carer can report any concerns you have about adverse effects from medications.