What do we do?
For over 20 years, the Regional Centre for Adverse Drug Reactions in Wales (CSM Wales) has worked with the Committee on Safety of Medicines (now the Commission on Human Medicines) to encourage the reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions by health professionals. The reporting rate has increased and is now among the highest anywhere in the UK. YCC Wales carried a survey of opinions on pharmacist reporting among community pharmacists and general practitioners in Wales, the extension of the Yellow Card Scheme was later launched by the Committee on Safety of Medicines. Wales has also helped to identify several new drug-safety signals, largely as a result of the Centre's continuing close relationship with health professionals, many of whom trained in Wales.
YCC Wales provides throughout Wales an educational and communication role as well as promoting adverse reaction reporting amongst local health professionals and patient support groups and advising on adverse drug reaction matters.
If requested to do so YCC Wales will follow up reports, on behalf of the MHRA, for further clinical information, thus maintaining important links with local reporters.
We will continue to be available to answer enquiries from healthcare professionals in Wales concerning suspected adverse drug reactions. Please complete an enquiry form or ring us on 02920 744181.
Patients who have concerns about side/adverse effects should discuss this with their doctor/pharmacist or contact NHS Direct.
Other activities include research on pharmacovigilance,
promotion of the Yellow Card Scheme, production of newsletters to raise awareness of adverse drug reactions and development of a web site used to highlight safety messages.