Pharmacists have backed the introduction of ‘insulin passports' for patients with diabetes, following calls by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA).

The NPSA called on NHS bodies to give the passports to diabetes patients in a safety alert last week. The booklets, which list the current insulin products a patient uses, should be given to all eligible patients by September 2012.

Lloydspharmacy pharmacist Marie Fitzgerald praised the scheme as a "good idea"."Anything that makes things safer for patients and pharmacists is good… to have doses written down categorically is really useful," she added.

The NPA also backed the NPSA initiative, and has produced guidance and a model SOP to comply with the alert, said NPA head of information Leyla Hannbeck.

However, Jignesh Patel, of Rohpharm Pharmacy in Plaistow, warned diabetes care involved more than just the product information, and pharmacists needed to be involved in care pathways with GPs.

"The booklets may help, but I don't think it will cover everything," Mr Patel said. The NPSA alert followed a review of 16,600 patient safety incidents involving insulin between 2003and 2009.

Copies of the insulin passports are available on the NSPA website. NHS bodies can order the passports and an information booklet through the NHS this month.