The aim of this Alert is to improve patient safety by empowering patients as they take an active role in their treatment with insulin.

This will be achieved with a patient information booklet and a patient-held record (the Insulin Passport) which documents the patient’s current insulin products and enables a safety check for prescribing, dispensing and administration. The Insulin Passport will complement existing systems for ensuring key information is accessed across healthcare sectors.

NHS organisations should ensure that by 31 August 2012:

1. Adult patients on insulin therapy receive a patient information booklet and an Insulin Passport to help provide accurate identification of their current insulin products and provide essential information across healthcare sectors.

2. Healthcare professionals and patients are informed how the Insulin Passport and associated patient information can be used to improve safety.

3. When prescriptions of insulin are prescribed, dispensed or administered, healthcare professionals cross-reference available information to confirm the correct identity of insulin products.

4. Systems are in place to enable hospital inpatients to self-administer insulin where feasible and safe.

Obtaining the Insulin Passport and patient information booklet

Copies of the content of the Insulin Passport and patient booklet are available below

for information. Supplies of these new items in English and in Welsh will be available from April 2011, from the current NHS Non-Secure Contract held by 3M. Orders can be placed as follows:

Telephone: 0845 610 1112

Email: nhsforms@spsl.uk.com