Steroid Emergency Card to support early recognition and treatment of adrenal crisis.

A National Patient Safety Alert has been issued regarding the introduction of a new Steroid Emergency Card to support the early recognition and treatment of adrenal crisis in adults. 

Recently published national guidance promotes a new patient-held Steroid Emergency Card to be issued by prescribers, which assists healthcare staff to identify affected patients and provides information on the necessary emergency treatment to initiate in acute illness, 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.

Actions are required by organisations, prescribers, community and hospital pharmacies. The actions and further details of the alert can be found on the NHS England website.