The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is consulting on proposals that would give schools the option of keeping spare adrenaline nasal sprays on site for children at risk of life-threatening allergic reactions.

The proposals being consulted on would allow schools to purchase and keep spare adrenaline nasal sprays for emergency use in children with severe allergies. 

Schools can already hold spare adrenaline auto-injectors for emergencies. Given that around 20% of serious allergic reactions to food happen in a school setting, the consultation is seeking views on allowing schools to hold adrenaline nasal sprays in the same way.  

Under the proposals, schools could choose whether to hold adrenaline auto-injectors, adrenaline nasal sprays, or both. The existing safeguards would remain, meaning emergency adrenaline could only be given to children known to be at risk of anaphylaxis and by appropriately trained school staff. 

The consultation also seeks views on how the proposals would work in practice.

Minister for Health, James Frith MP said: “Parents of children with serious allergies should be able to send them to school knowing the right help is there in an emergency.

“Giving schools another way to respond quickly to a severe allergic reaction could be life-saving, and I’d encourage families, schools and others to have their say in shaping these proposals.”

The consultation is open for eight weeks and welcomes responses from everyone, including schools, school staff, parents and carers, healthcare professionals, and anyone with an interest in improving access to emergency treatment for anaphylaxis.