Since the Yellow Card Scheme has been running for over 40 years, it has evolved in order to reflect changes in the healthcare system.
The Yellow Card Scheme was initially restricted to doctors, however over the years the scheme has been expanded to include pharmacists, nurses, dentists, coroners and more recently patients to report suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Hospital pharmacists were introduced to the scheme in 1997 and in 1999 all community pharmacists were included as they are well placed to report ADRs associated with over-the-counter medicines and herbal products.
Nurses were also recognised as have an increasingly important role including the prescribing of drugs, so the scheme was expanded to include nurses, midwives and health visitors to report. More recently, patients, parents and carers are also now encouraged to report suspected ADRs directly to the MHRA through the Yellow Card Scheme.
Patients were initially, since 2003, able to report ADRs through the telephone helpline NHS direct. Following an independent review of access to the Yellow Card Scheme, a pilot scheme was launched for patients to report ADRs directly to the MHRA in January 2005. The insight and experience gained through these pilots, together with consultations with patients and members of the public, led to the development of the scheme being rolled out nationwide in February 2008.
Information technology has also had a big impact on the Yellow Card Scheme. When the Yellow Card Scheme commenced, it was entirely paper-based, it was soon recognised that paper forms may not be the most convenient way for people to complete the Yellow Card report. In 2002, the Yellow Card website was launched, which included an electronic Yellow Card reporting form. This site was redeveloped and launched in February 2008 coinciding with the official launch of patient reporting. Now both patients and healthcare professionals can report suspected adverse drug reactions through the Yellow Card website as well as on paper Yellow Cards.
This timeline highlights some of the key events that have helped evolve the Yellow Card Scheme:
