Requirements for Provision
To ensure patient safety and compliance with regulatory standards, pharmacies must meet several stringent requirements to provide this service:
1. Completion of a Risk Assessment: Pharmacies are required to complete a risk assessment provided by us. This is a critical step to ensure readiness and safety in offering the service.
2. Facility and Equipment Standards: Adequate facilities, including a couch for patient use and a waiting
area for monitoring after the injection, are mandatory.
3. Specialised Training: Pharmacists must have completed training in IM injection techniques, including the 'air bubble' and 'z-track' methods. We will offer additional guidance on deep IM gluteal injections to ensure proficiency.
4. Comprehensive Training Requirements: Beyond injection techniques, pharmacists must be up-to-date with safeguarding practices and basic life support training (within the last 12 months) and various other training requirments.
5. Product and Service Knowledge: A thorough review of the Kenalog
Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC), understanding of contraindications, cautions, potential side effects, and our Patient Specific Directions (PSDs) are essential.
6. Service Provision Criteria: This service is reserved for patients who have exhausted all other allergy management options and are suffering from severe allergies.
Promotion and Advertising
Given the regulatory landscape, particularly the MHRA's stance on advertising off-label services, it is imperative that we promote this service with care. Refrain from using the term ‘hay fever injections’ in any promotional materials to avoid regulatory
issues.
Specialised Service Provision
This service is highly specialised, and its provision will be restricted to pharmacies that can demonstrate compliance with all the above requirements. As such, we encourage all interested members to contact us for detailed information and to
begin the necessary training and preparation.
