AQW 40245/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any work undertaken alongside the Minister of Education to ensure that schools have access to life-saving allergy medication.
Asked by Nuala McAllister MLA on 10 February 2026
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 10 February 2026
- Answer due by
- 25 February 2026
- Answered
- 26 March 202644 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
From 1 October 2017 an amendment to the Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations (HMR) 2017 has allowed schools to buy adrenaline auto-injector (AAI) devices without a prescription, for emergency use in children who are at risk of anaphylaxis but whose own device is not available or not working.
To reflect this change guidance was issued by the Chief Medical Officer, ‘Guidance on the Use of Adrenaline Auto-Injectors in Schools (HSS(MD)21/2017))’. This is turn acted as an addendum to ‘Supporting Pupils with Medication Needs’ (2008). This guidance remains extant.
As an enabler to this the DoH Medicines Regulatory Group and the then Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) jointly issued a summary of the changes to community pharmacies (Adrenaline Auto-Injectors in Schools, 13 October 2018), as community pharmacies are the primary supply route
My officials have contributed to the development of the ‘Supporting Pupils with Medication Needs’ guidance, and to a review of the guidance led by the Department of Education.