Schools across the United Kingdom could be allowed to buy and keep spare adrenaline nasal sprays under a medicines-law consultation opened on October 19.
The proposal would extend the emergency backup arrangements that already allow schools to hold adrenaline auto-injectors. It would not require a school to stock a particular brand or replace the expectation that pupils carry their own prescribed medicine.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is consulting jointly with Northern Ireland’s Department of Health. A change to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 is proposed, rather than already in force.
Schools could choose injectors, nasal sprays or both. Existing safeguards would remain: emergency supplies would be for children known to be at risk of anaphylaxis and would be administered by trained staff.
The regulator also asks whether the legislation should use broader language covering future authorised self-administered adrenaline products, reducing the need for a separate amendment for each new form.
Responses are invited from families, schools, health professionals and others. The eight-week consultation closes on December 14.
