The New NHS Steroid Emergency Card – May 2021
Dear Patients who are taking a regular steroid medication.
Common examples of this are Hydrocortisone, Prednisolone or Dexamethasone tablets, Clenil, Seretide, or Fostair inhalers, Prednisolone enemas or suppositories. There are many other examples also. If you are not sure which of your medicines contains a steroid, please ask at the pharmacy next time you collect your prescription.
This is an effective medication but it is important that the instructions below are followed:
- DO NOT STOP taking this steroid medication
- If you are unwell, have a fever, are involved in an accident or require surgery, you may need a higher dose
- Always carry this card
- Show this card to any healthcare professional who gives you treatment
In case of emergency, if you are seriously unwell or have diarrhoea and/or vomiting and cannot take any tablets
- Seek urgent medical help
- You will require a hydrocortisone injection and may need hospital admission.
Do I still need to keep the blue Steroid treatment card too?
- Yes, you will need to keep both. However this new NHS Steroid Emergency Card is very important. Also still wear your medic alert bracelet or necklace and keep any other emergency cards you may have.
I have lost my new card, where can I get another one from?
- New or replacement NHS Steroid Emergency Cards can be obtained from your GP practice, community pharmacy or hospital, or downloaded from https://www.endocrinology.org/media/3873/steroid-card.pdf
- You can have more than one card if you would like to store them in different places. Please make sure the details on both cards are the same.
- You can also screen shot the NHS Steroid Emergency Card and save your card. Then you can have it as screen saver on your smart phone. See further advice on how do this at: https://www.addisonsdisease.org.uk/news/new-nhs-steroid-card-released
download and print: steroid card patient letter
* Please PRINT using above link then cut out the card and carry it with you at all times *
