Use of Kenalog in Ophthalmology department

​​​Request ​807993283

Please provide the following information relating specifically to the use of Kenalog (triamcinolone) within your Ophthalmology department: 

1. The number of Kenalog administrations carried out in Ophthalmology for each of the last three financial years. 

2. A breakdown of the clinical indications recorded for Kenalog use in Ophthalmology (e.g., uveitis, macular oedema, post operative inflammation), if available. 

3. Any local guidelines, protocols, or clinical policies governing the use of Kenalog in Ophthalmology. 

4. Any recorded adverse events, Datix reports, or safety concerns relating to Kenalog use in Ophthalmology during the same period. 

5. The number of vials issued by pharmacy to Ophthalmology for Kenalog in each of the last three financial years, if held. 

6. Whether Kenalog (triamcinolone) is listed on the Trust’s formulary for Ophthalmology, and if so, any restrictions or criteria for its use. 

7. As Kenalog has been withdrawn from the UK market, please provide any recorded information, internal communications, policies, or decisions relating to: 

• whether the Ophthalmology department is continuing to use existing stock, 

• any plans or decisions to discontinue its use, and 

• any identified or recommended alternative treatments.

Response

1

No central record is held for Kenalog administrations carried out in Ophthalmology; administration is documented in the medical notes of individual patients receiving treatment. Therefore, Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

2

Health and Care Jersey (HCJ) do not hold any records for the clinical indicators for Kenalog use in Ophthalmology at a local level. Practice is guided by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidance and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.

3

Use of triamcinolone in the treatment of chalazia was included in the Criteria Based Clinical Treatments Policy of May 2024 (prior to discontinuation of Kenalog). An excerpt from the Policy showing the relevant section is attached below.

[LINK CBTP Chalazia]

With the exception of the above policy on eligibility for funded treatment, HCJ do not have any local guidelines, protocols, or clinical policies on the use of Kenalog in Ophthalmology. As noted, practice is guided by NICE guidance and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, and clinical assessment.

4

No adverse events, incidents or safety concerns have been recorded in the incident reporting system relating to Kenalog use in Ophthalmology across the timeframe.

5

According to HCJ’s Pharmacy stock system report, the following number of containers / vials have been issued to the Eye Clinic in the calendar years 2023 to 2025:

• ​2023: 1 pack of 5 vials
• 2024: 2 packs of 5 vials
• 2025: 2 packs of 5 vials

6

Kenalog is not currently on the HCJ formulary for any speciality and has been removed from Pharmacy systems.

7

Discontinuation has been implemented. HCJ Pharmacy communicated a Medicines Supply Notification (MSN) to all care groups using Kenalog in April 2025, informing of the drug’s discontinuation and the impending exhaustion of stocks in the supply chain.

A copy of the email communication shared with the care group points of contact is attached. Redactions have been applied to personal information, including names and direct contact details, in consideration of Article 25 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011. Names of Clinical Directors, Clinical Leads and members of the Care Group triumvirates are included for disclosure.

[LINK email comms]​

The Department of Health and Social Care / NHS England MSN email attachment is available online at the following link:

Department of Heath Social Care Medicine Supply Notification Adcortyl and Kenalog.pdf

As this is accessible by other means, Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied.

Following removal from the formulary / systems, Ophthalmology are not using Kenalog and no stock is available. Ophthalmology have identified Methylprednisolone acetate 40mg/ml injection as an alternative drug treatment.

Articles applied

Article 3 Meaning of “information held by a public authority” 

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if – (a) it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or (b) it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.

Article 23 Information accessible to applicant by other means 

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this Law, whether or not free of charge. (2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information.

Article 25 Personal information 

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2005. 

(2) Information is absolutely exempt information if – 

(a) it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is not the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018​; and 

(b) its supply to a member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles, as defined in that Law.