September 17th 2025

By Ailsa Colquhoun

Medicines safety added to English school curriculum

Today (September 17) is World Patient Safety Day To mark the event the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has announced that medicine safety and how to report side effects of medicines via the Yellow Card scheme is now part of the Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) statutory guidance for schools in England. 

A new child-friendly guide covers the following content: 

• What is a side effect? 

• Why it’s important to report problems with medicines  

• How to submit a Yellow Card report 

• The role of the MHRA in public safety.

Newly appointed DHSC minister Zubir Ahmed, who has been given the brief for patient safety, said: "We’re giving young people the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves and their loved ones from preventable harm." 

World Patient Safety Day emphasises the need for stronger measures to protect children from preventable harm. This year’s slogan, “Patient safety from the start!”, emphasises the urgent need to act early and consistently to prevent harm throughout childhood, and yield benefits across the life course.