Implementation of the insulin passport and patient information leaflet in response to the National Patient Safety Agency Alert for Milton Keynes (NPSA/2011/PSA003) – Update August 2014

The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) have advised us in 2010/11 following the Insulin Alert 2011(1); that by August 31st 2012, all adults aged 18 or over using insulin therapy should be offered an insulin passport and patient information leaflet outlining potential safety issues relating to the prescribing, dispensing and administration of insulin by health care professionals(2).

The Standard Operating Procedure suggests that patients should check they are being given the correct insulin; especially as some insulin’s have similar names but very different action profiles. They should carry the insulin passport with them at all times, to show Health Care Professionals including Pharmacists which insulin and device they are using (3).

It is the responsibility of General Practice to issue them to their patients if they have not received one from elsewhere (3).

An insulin passport and leaflet was developed by the NPSA but concerns were raised by diabetes specialists about how effective / accurate these tools would be (2). Alternatives have therefore been sought.

Booklet:

A shorter version of the patient information leaflet “The safe use of insulin and you” was developed and is available on the NPSA and NHS Diabetes websites for printing. Milton Keynes has chosen to use this shortened version.

Leaflet: Safe Use of Insulin and You Patient Information Booklet

Insulin Passport:

This Insulin Passport must be issued by the prescriber (3).

N.B: Please do not attach the passports to repeat prescriptions– please issue it at a face to face consultation.

The NPSA insulin passport is paper-based and requires a significant amount of writing. It is not useful for people who have poor reading skills (i.e. the sort of people at high risk of mistakes being made with their insulin) (2).

Milton Keynes has decided to use:

For patients using human /analogue insulin:

Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Sanofi - insulin safety cards.

These are plastic and therefore more durable than the paper-based passport, and have a picture of the device and packaging of the type of insulin which is ideal for many people but especially where English is not their first language (2).

Order from:

Lilly: Veronica Guterres Diabetes Community Specialist Representative

email: guterres_veronica@lilly.com

or call on 07885 559471

Novo Nordisk: Sonia Chohan Diabetes Community Specialist Representative

Email: SOCA@novonordisk.com

or call on 07545 938361

Sanofi Aventis: Call the 24 hour diabetes care line 08000 352525

For patients using Animal insulin –

Hypurin Wockhardt: Bethan Coles

Email: Bethan.Coles@wockhardt.co.uk

Tel: 01978 661261 Ext:3162
Mobile: 0785 064 2916

Please advise the patient to destroy any old cards.

Primary Care Systm1 READ Codes:

Please consider using the following READ Codes to the patient’s notes: Booklet:

Insulin alert patient information booklet given	S1 READ Codes

XaYQX
Professional judgement not to engage patient with insulin alert requirements	XaYRc
Insulin alert patient information booklet information discussed	XaYQd
Passport:

Insulin passport given	XaYQZ
Insulin passport completed	XaYQh
Informed dissent not to carry insulin passport	XaYQi

REMINDER - Insulin e-learning:

An alert was issued in 2010(4) recommending all Healthcare Professionals involved in prescribing/dispensing or giving insulin should complete the NHS Diabetes e-learning package.

http://www.healthcareea.co.uk/patient_safety_training_suite

Please note that this now needs to be paid for.

View: http://nationalpatientsafetysuite.virtualcollege.co.uk/org_select?loc=F48861CA24E26A23A923CA68657079F4 to check if your team / organisation have signed up for this or discuss with your line manager

For more advice regarding the Insulin Passport contact:

Julie Petzing Lead Diabetes Specialist Nurse MK Diabetes Care:

Email: julie.petzing@miltonkeynes.nhs.uk

Janet Corbett Head of Prescribing and Clinical Quality

Email: janet.corbett@miltonkeynes.nhs.uk

Dr Shanthi Chandran Consultant Endocrinologist.

Email: shanthi.chandran@mkhospital.nhs.uk

References:

(1) National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) Patient Safety Alert NPSA/2011/PSA003 March 2011

(2) Implementation of the insulin passport, patient information leaflet and appropriate alternatives to the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) tools in response to the Patient Safety Alert

(NPSA/2011/PSA003)

(3) Standard Operating Procedure for implementing insulin passport/insulin safety card and the patient information booklet (NPSA/2011/PSA003)

(4) National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) Rapid response Report NPSA / 2010/ RRR013 June 2010

MKDC August 2014

Implementation of the insulin passport and patient information leaflet in response to the National Patient Safety Agency Alert for Milton Keynes (NPSA/2011/PSA003)

admin99

2017-07-31

Bolton Annie (RD8) Milton Keynes Hospital

Milton Keynes PCT