The NHS is today (Tuesday 21 March) taking the precautionary step of writing to patients who have had certain types of open heart surgery to inform them that they may have a low risk of having contracted an infection caused by Mycobacterium chimaera (M. chimaera). Over the next two weeks, letters are being sent to […]
A resource alert has been issued to support NHS providers to reduce harm leading to avoidable admissions of full-term babies. Resources to support safer care for full-term babies We’ve produced a resource to support staff in preventing avoidable admissions of full-term babies. It is a priority for the NHS to reduce avoidable harm that can lead to […]
A patient safety alert has been issued to warn NHS providers of the risk of severe harm and death if an insulin needle and syringe is used to administer insulin withdrawn directly from a pen device or replacement cartridge. Risk of severe harm and death due to withdrawing insulin from pen devices Patient safety concerns […]
A patient safety alert has been issued on the safe use of injectable phenytoin. Risk of death and severe harm from error with injectable phenytoin Injectable phenytoin is used to slow and stabilise erratic electrical brain activity in, for example, status epilepticus, which is a life-threatening medical emergency. It is a particularly complicated drug to […]
A stage three alert has been issued to support NHS providers that supply medical air using medical gas pipeline systems (MGPSs) to reduce the risk of harm from oxygen tubing being connected to air flowmeters. Reducing the risk of oxygen tubing being connected to air flowmeters Supporting information for patient safety alert: Reducing the risk […]
A stage three alert has been issued on the restricted use of open systems for injectable medication. Open systems include gallipots or other types of open container such as moulded plastic procedure trays. Restricted use of open systems for injectable medication This alert has been issued to stop the use of open systems for injectable […]
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) and NHS England are working with Marie Stopes International to make sure that patients are protected from potential harm when undergoing pregnancy terminations. Following CQC’s inspections of Marie Stopes International’s services and its corporate headquarters in England, the regulator has raised concerns about the provider’s corporate and clinical governance arrangements […]
A stage two alert has been issued to support NHS providers in diagnosing, treating and managing acute kidney injury. Resources to support the care of patients with acute kidney injury This alert has been issued to raise awareness of acute kidney injury (AKI) and to signpost clinicans to a set of resources developed by Think Kidneys. These resources […]
A stage two alert has been issued to support providers of NHS-funded care to prevent the risk of severe harm or death caused by the misplacement of nasogastric tubes (NG tubes). Nasogastric tube misplacement: continuing risk of death and severe harm This alert highlights patient safety incidents involving the misplacement of nasogastric and orogastric tubes. […]
A stage two resource alert has been issued to support the timely identification, response and management of the deteriorating patient (adults and children). Resources to support safer care of the deteriorating patient (adults and children) Related content Patient safety alerts A safe system framework for recognising and responding to children at risk of deterioration Resources […]