Prescription data drives clinical research to improve patient safety in allergy care
- 27 January 2026
- Healthcare News
New research using NHS prescription data is helping to improve how adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) are prescribed and made available. This work aims to improve safety and outcomes for people at risk of serious allergic reactions.
Two recently published studies show how data from the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) is being used to support better decision-making and inform policies around allergy care.
Understanding how AAIs are prescribed
The first study, published in Clinical and Experimental Allergy, looked at how anaphylaxis is treated in community settings, focusing on AAIs. Researchers analysed prescription data from almost 47,000 patients over the span of two years, who had been prescribed a 150 microgram AAI (junior dose) in their latest prescription.
What the study found
The study showed that incorrect (non-standard) prescribing was fairly common.
- Estimates based on age for weight growth centiles show between 20.2% and at least 3.7% of people prescribed a 150 microgram AAI were likely to be above the recommended weight for that dose.
- When guidance from the Resuscitation Council UK was applied, which suggests switching to the higher dose (300 microgram) at around six years of age, almost half (49.1%) of patients were estimated to be prescribed the wrong dose.
- Non-standard prescribing was more common in areas with higher levels of deprivation.
These findings could help health professionals review guidance and work towards safer, more consistent prescribing of AAIs.
Improving access to adrenaline in schools
The second study, published in Archives of Disease in Childhood, focused on access to emergency adrenaline in schools.
Researchers from Imperial College London used NHSBSA data to compare two approaches:
- prescribing AAIs for individual children to be kept at school
- providing spare AAIs for each school, that can be used for any child having an anaphylactic reaction
The study found that having spare AAIs available in schools can be a cost-effective way to improve emergency preparedness and safety for children with serious allergies. As shared devices ensure coverage for all students without requiring each child to maintain multiple sets of AAIs at home and at school, which often expire unused and can contribute to overprescribing and increased healthcare costs.
This evidence is especially useful for Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and others involved in planning and funding local health services.
Why this matters
Together, these studies show how NHS prescription data can be turned into practical evidence that supports safer allergy care. By working with NHS trusts and research partners, the NHSBSA is helping to turn data into insights that inform policy and improve patient outcomes.
You can read more about the published research here: NHSBSA data powers groundbreaking allergy research to improve patient safety
References
Paper 1: Adrenaline Auto-Injector Prescribing in Primary Care in England: An Analysis of Non-Standard Dosing
