The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has launched a new three-year Strategy for Improving Safety Communications.
Launched on World Patient Safety Day, 17 September 2024, the strategy aimed to transform the way information is provided about the risks and safety of medicines, medical devices and healthcare products in the UK to support effective implementation of new safety measures.
MHRA points out that effective communication is essential so that patients are informed of and understand the benefits and risks of medicines and devices they are using, to assist healthcare professionals in best protecting their patients, and to maintain confidence in medical products, the broader health system, and the MHRA.
MHRA has engaged with healthcare professionals and listened to their feedback on bringing improvements to communications and systems. The strategy is underpinned by the findings of a recent consultation with healthcare professionals and healthcare organisations.
The strategy aims to deliver to patients and healthcare professionals more co-ordinated, targeted, and impactful safety communications, when they need it, using the best possible communication channels. It aims to build on the MHRA’s transformed approach to safety following the 2020 Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, which called for the strengthening the MHRA’s processes for monitoring the safety of medicines and medical devices and better working with other bodies to support changes being embedded without delay in clinical practice.
The consultation highlighted workload and time pressures for healthcare professionals, as well as the amount of safety warnings they receive. In response the MHRA will launch a new MHRA Safety ‘round up’ bulletin to bring together safety advice communicated by the MHRA each month across all the medical products they regulate.
In response to calls from healthcare professionals, for more information about the MHRA’s safety warnings and how they should be actioned, the MHRA will launch campaigns to raise awareness of the role of the MHRA and the importance of the safety communications.
Others asked for better avenues for feedback on new safety warnings, so the MHRA aims to build closer relationships with healthcare organisations and with healthcare professionals, to ensure advice is actionable and informed by their needs.
The agency will also continue to build and increase its direct reach to patients, including through use of innovative mechanisms and communication methods that are tailored to their needs.
Dr Alison Cave, chief safety officer at the MHRA, said: "Our new Strategy for Improving Safety Communications will help us ensure patients are better informed about the benefits and risks of medical products.
"We continue to listen to and shape our work in the light of feedback from patients, the public, healthcare professionals and external experts to ensure that we continue to support all those with whom we work to improve patient safety."
