Source: Medicines and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency published on this website Wednesday 17 September 2025 by Jill Powell
The importance of medicine safety and how to report side effects of medicines via the Yellow Card scheme is now part of the statutory guidance for schools in England.
On World Patient Safety Day (17 September), the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is proud to announce a major milestone in its mission to protect public health: for the first time, the importance of medicine safety and how to report side effects of medicines via the Yellow Card scheme is now part of the RSHE statutory guidance for schools in England.
Working in close partnership with the Department for Education (DfE), the MHRA has successfully embedded this life-saving knowledge into the statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) guidance – reaching children and young people in classrooms across the country.
This bold step puts patient safety into the hands of the next generation, giving them the tools to recognise and report side effects from medicines.
Putting safety at the heart of education
The curriculum changes are reflected in the statutory guidance , which now links directly to the Yellow Card scheme and a dedicated child-friendly guide tested with over 3,500 children and young people.
The content covers:
- What a side effect is
- Why it’s important to report problems with medicines
- How to submit a Yellow Card report
- Who the MHRA are and how they help keep the public safe
World Patient Safety Day emphasises the need for stronger measures to protect children from preventable harm. The inclusion of this important information on the curriculum reflects this call by making young people active participants in the safety of the healthcare system.
The inclusion in education ensures that even the youngest members of society know how to:
- Take charge of their own health
- Speak up when something doesn’t feel right
- Play a direct role in improving the safety of medicines and medical devices for all
Accessible, empowering, actionable
- Young people are guided to seek support from a parent, carer, teacher, or healthcare professional if they’re worried about a possible side effect, and they are shown how to report it through the Yellow Card website: https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk
- The guide for children and young people explains reporting in simple, clear terms and is now an official part of the resources supporting Health Education in England.
About the Yellow Card scheme
- The Yellow Card scheme is the UK’s system for reporting suspected side effects to medicines, medical devices, and other healthcare products. Managed by the MHRA, the scheme plays a crucial role in monitoring product safety and taking action to minimise risks.
- Now, for the first time, children and young people are actively encouraged in this system – not just as potential patients, but as active participants in ensuring safer healthcare for all.
