| Medical
directors' bulletin
CONTENTS
Take action
1. Working Time Directive regulations for career grade
doctors
2. Heart drug consultation
3. Hospital medicines management collaborative
4. Genetics – bid invited
5. South African exchanges
6. Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) annual report 2001-2002
7. Clinical Excellence Awards – reminder
8. International Fellowship Programme- consultant expansion
National standards and guidance
9. AHPs and practitioners with special interests
10. Chaplaincy guidance
11. Primary care contracting – a prospectus of support for
the NHS
12. Implementation guidance on the single assessment process
for older people
13. Older people’s mental health – protocol clarification
14. Preventing suicide: a toolkit for mental health services
15. Personality disorder capabilities framework
16. Heart disease workforce competency framework
17. Reducing health inequalities
18. A model of best practice on Down’s syndrome screening
19. Interventional Procedures Programme (IPP)
20. Seven steps to patient safety
21. Road traffic accident (RTA) costs recovery
22. External quality assessment (EQA) schemes
23. Synopsis of planning & performance management system
Recent news
24. New pay framework for NHS chief executives and directors
25. Suspensions of clinical staff
26. Breaking Through programme
27. Nurses – the next generation
28. NHS Professionals – establishment of a new special health
authority
29. Confidentiality – NHS Code of Practice
30. Information governance toolkit
31. Patient letters
32. Better patient safety report
33. Monitoring risk management
34. Improving older people’s services
35. Older people’s services funding
36. Breast screening extension
37. Lung cancer group
38. Cancer survey by the National Audit Office
39. NHS foundation trusts and mental health and disabilities
trusts
40. Mental health workforce pledge
41. Healing environments
42. Ambulance leadership and integration
43. NHS Direct praised
44. Stop smoking products rebate scheme
45. Statistics on smoking
46. Potassium chloride safety controls
47. Anakinra for rheumatoid arthritis appraisal
48. Tritace clarification
49. Medical science investment
50. Pancreatic transplants
51. Second annual report of the Retained Organs commission
52. Sex selection ban
53. Blanket cloning ban averted
54. Review of Central Returns (ROCR)
55. Department of Health change programme
Safety notices
56. Medical device alerts
57. Hazard notice
TAKE ACTION
Working Time Directive regulations for career grade doctors
Unless employees have signed a voluntary waiver, career grade doctors
should not work for more than 48 hours a week over a 26-week reference
period. Although career grade doctors are exempted from those regulations
which relate to night working, daily rest, weekly rest and breaks at work,
compensatory rest will accrue for hours worked during rest breaks. Employers
should work with doctors locally to assess working hours and to be certain
that the regulations are not being breached.
More at (Advance Letter (Medical and dental)) 6/98 www.info.doh.gov.uk/doh/coin4.nsf/Circulars?ReadForm
Top
Heart drug consultation
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Agency (MHRA) has published
a consultation document recommending that pharmacists should be able to
supply the drug Zocor Heart-Pro following on-the-spot health checks.
About 1.5 million people are currently receiving statin therapy, potentially
saving 6,700 lives a year as well as lowering the number of heart attacks.
The NHS spent around £550 million on statins in 2002-2003 and spending
is now £230 million a year more than it was three years ago. This investment
has already helped reduce deaths from heart disease and strokes in people
aged over 75 by 23 per cent over five years.
The consultation ends on 16 January. The document is at www.mhra.gov.uk
The results of the consultation will be considered by the Committee for
Safety of Medicines which will then advise health ministers on a course
of action.
Top
Hospital medicines management collaborative
The hospital medicines management collaborative, launched in September
and hosted by the National Prescribing Centre, will use a proven improvement
approach to focus on identifying, spreading and implementing good medicines
management practice in the hospital setting. The collaborative will be
informed by the Medicines Management Framework self-assessments completed
in 2001. Expressions of interest for the collaborative should be made
by 12 December and completed application forms submitted to hmmc@npc.nhs.uk
by 5 January 2004.
More at www.npc.nhs.uk/mms
Top
Genetics - bids invited
The genetics White Paper announced up to £4 million start-up funding
for initiatives to kick-start the integration of genetic knowledge and
technologies into other services.
The bidding proforma is at www.doh.gov.uk/genetics/servicedev.htm
Bids are to be co-ordinated by specialised commissioning groups and must
be submitted to the Department of Health by 25 February 2004.
Top
South African exchanges
This focuses on the educational exchange of health care concepts and
personnel. Prior to setting up these arrangements we would like to hear
from people already operating an exchange programme with South Africa
or from those interested in doing so. Respond by 16 January 2004.
More at www.doh.gov.uk/cebulletin/musouthafricauk.htm
Top
Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) annual report 2001-2002
Participation in the SHOT scheme forms part of the action plan for better
blood transfusion. The report makes recommendations aimed at improving
practice in blood transfusion. It is available in hard copy from Marie
Jones on 0161 251 4208 or marie.jones@nbs.nhs.uk
or can be found at www.shotuk.org
Top
Clinical Excellence Awards – reminder
Please note that completed applications must be e-mailed to the Advisory
Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards (ACCEA) Secretariat by 31 January
2004. In addition to the main guidance, ACCEA has published guidance
for the setting up and operation of local awards committees. Please note
that the requirements and arrangements have been altered this year. All
ACCEA guidance is at www.doh.gov.uk/accea/
Top
International Fellowship Programme – consultant expansion
Major improvements have been made to the NHS International Fellowship
programme in response to feedback from NHS trusts. The deadline for confirmed
job descriptions for Round 3 is 30 January 2004. The Department
of Health will be holding an event for trusts taking part in Round 3 or
interested in Round 4 on 21 January at York Racecourse. A flyer and delegate
attendance form can be obtained from cindy.runghen@tmp.com
More at www.doh.gov.uk/international-recruitment
Top
NATIONAL STANDARDS AND GUIDANCE
AHPs and practitioners with special interests
New guidance for PCTs and NHS trusts has been launched on developing
the roles of AHPs with special interests in primary care. Also launched
was an introduction to the work of practitioners with special interests
(PwSI).
For enquiries on PwSIs contact gareth.james@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Both documents are at www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/gp-specialinterests/
Top
Chaplaincy guidance
Meeting the Spiritual and Religious Needs of Patients and Staff
has been published by the Department of Health.
All trusts are receiving a hard copy version of the document via communication
leads. It can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/chaplain
or hard copy from the Health Literature Line on 08701 555 455.
Top
Primary care contracting - a prospectus of support for the NHS
This prospectus offers practical help from the NHS Modernisation Agency
and National Primary Care Development Team to PCTs, practices and strategic
health authorities to complement local arrangements and help them implement
the new GMS contract, develop effective out-of-hours services and further
develop PMS schemes.
More at www.natpact.nhs.uk/primarycarecontracting/
and www.npdt.org
Top
Implementation guidance on the single assessment process for older
people
The guidance includes details of requirements for next April and disseminates
progress from good practice localities and the NHS Information Authority,
particularly on workable interim IT solutions to information sharing.
Guidance is at www.doh.gov.uk/scg/sap
Top
Older people's mental health - protocol clarification
The Priorities and Planning Framework for 2003-2006 requires
that, by next April, protocols are in place across all health and social
care systems for the care and management of older people with mental health
problems. Following requests for further information about what those
protocols should cover, the Department of Health has placed brief clarification
at www.doh.gov.uk/nsf/olderpeople/publications.htm
Top
Preventing suicide: a toolkit for mental health services
As part of the national suicide prevention strategy, the National
Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) has published this toolkit
to reduce suicides of people in contact with mental health services.
The toolkit is at www.nimhe.org.uk/downloads/SuicidePreventionToolkitweb.pdf
Top
Personality disorder capabilities framework
The National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) has
published Breaking the Cycle of Rejection: The Personality Disorder
Capabilities Framework
The framework underpins the implementation of the NIMHE guidance on Personality
Disorder: No Longer a Diagnosis of Exclusion, published in January
2003.
The document sets out a framework to support the development of practitioner
capabilities in the wide range of agencies involved in treating and supporting
people with personality disorder. This is the first time that an attempt
has been made to define the required skills across the whole system.
The Department of Health has made available £2 million in 2004-2005 to
kick-start new training programmes for the broad base of staff in contact
with people with personality disorders.
More at http://www.nimhe.org.uk/downloads/personalitydisorders.pdf
Top
Heart disease workforce competence framework
This competence framework covers the standards of performance, skills
and knowledge required of workers in the areas of prevention, heart failure
and rehabilitation. More at www.skillsforhealth.org.uk
under News headlines. Copies available from doh@prolog.uk.com
(Smart Code 33935).
Top
Reducing health inequalities
A new set of indicators has been established to help NHS trusts, local
authorities and other organisations track progress against health inequalities
targets. This will help to identify areas that need further support and
investment.
The new indicators relate to areas including poverty, homelessness and
lifestyle.
From next year, the first annual report on health inequalities will be
published, providing a national stocktake of progress as well as recognising
local achievements.
Tackling Health Inequalities – A Programme for Action, issued in
July, set out a comprehensive, three-year plan for meeting the inequality
targets.
More at www.doh.gov.uk/healthinequalities/
Top
A model of best practice on Down's syndrome screening
A model of best practice on Down’s syndrome screening is available
for service commissioners implementing the priorities and planning framework
and the clinical guidelines on antenatal care by the National Institute
for Clinical Excellence.
Details at www.doh.gov.uk/screeningdownssyndrome/
Top
Interventional Procedures Programme (IPP)
The National Institute of Clinical Excellence has established the
IPP to assess the safety and efficacy of new interventional procedures.
From 13 November, medical practitioners planning to undertake new interventional
procedures should seek approval from their NHS trust's clinical governance
committee before doing so, and the chair should then notify the procedure
to the IPP.
More at www.nice.org.uk/ip
and www.info.doh.gov.uk/doh/coin4.nsf/Circulars?ReadForm
[HSC 2003/011}
or contact paul.woods@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Top
Seven steps to patient safety
The guide, published by the National Patient Safety Agency, offers
NHS staff seven steps to improve their patient safety focus and is supported
by 31 patient safety managers across England and Wales.
More at www.npsa.nhs.uk/sevensteps/default.asp
Top
Road traffic accident (RTA) costs recovery
NHS chief executives have been reminded that it is unnecessary and
inappropriate for NHS bodies to engage in activities that could be perceived
as encouraging victims of RTAs to make compensation claims so that the
costs to the NHS of treating them can be recovered from the person responsible
for the accident. Patients should not be placed in a position where they
feel pressurised to make a claim or to use particular commercial organisations
to do so. Detailed guidance on this was re-issued to all RTA liaison officers
on 24 October.
Top
External quality assessment (EQA) schemes
Practical advice on the day-to-day running of EQA schemes for pathology
services has been published.
More at www.doh.gov.uk/pathologymodernisation/papers.htm
Top
Synopsis of planning & performance management system
A synopsis of the planning and performance management system post-Shifting
the Balance of Power is at www.doh.gov.uk/planning2003-2006/ppmssynopsis.pdf
This will help managers in the NHS to see how parts of the new system
are intended to fit together and further development is planned over the
next few years.
Top
RECENT NEWS
New pay framework for NHS chief executives and directors
An update is at www.doh.gov.uk/cebulletin/newpayframework.htm
Top
Suspensions of clinical staff
The National Audit Office has recently publishedThe Management
of Suspensions of Clinical Staff in NHS Hospital and Ambulance Trusts
in England.
Chief medical officer Liam Donaldson said: "We want to remove the
need for suspensions save in the most exceptional circumstances. It is
in the interests of all concerned to ensure that alternatives to suspension
are carefully considered."
The Department of Health is near agreement with the British Medical Association
on a new framework for handling suspensions of doctors and dentists.
The NAO report is at www.nao.gov.uk/publications/nao_reports/index.htm
Top
Breaking Through programme
This programme will commence in January 2004. It is targeted at black
and minority ethnic staff with the potential to progress into senior leadership
roles. The NHS Leadership Centre is looking for nominations. More at www.doh.gov.uk/cebulletin/nhsleadershipcentre.htm
Top
Nurses – the next generation
A new generation of "entrepreneurial nurses" will be at
the frontline of delivering patient care and running the NHS.
This is the future vision of nursing described by health secretary John
Reid at the chief nursing officer's conference in Brighton.
He encouraged nurse directors to support nurses to take risks safely,
to be less hierarchical and be more confident.
He also announced that independent nurse prescribing is being extended
to an extra 10 medical conditions. A further 30 medicines are being added
to the extended formulary list for nurses to prescribe to treat conditions
such as acute asthma attacks and animal and human bites. Next year it
will be extended to emergency care.
More at www.doh.gov.uk/cno
Top
NHS Professionals - establishment of a new special health authority
A letter has been issued to all NHS Professional host employers. It
details progress on the establishment of the special health authority
and its likely implications.
More at www.doh.gov.uk/cebulletin/nhsp.htm
Top
Confidentiality - NHS Code of Practice
Guidance entitled Confidentiality: NHS Code of Practice has
been published by the Department of Health. It applies to all staff who
process patient information and has been endorsed by the Information Commissioner,
General Medical Council, British Medical Association and Medical Research
Council.
It is at www.doh.gov.uk/ipu/confiden/protect/
or can be ordered from Department of Health, PO Box 777, London, SE1 6XH;
08701 555 455
Top
Information governance toolkit
The code of practice above is a key component of a new information
governance toolkit. This provides web-based guidance and assessment tools
for all information governance areas. The toolkit is at nww.nhsia.nhs.uk/infogov/igt
(for NHSnet users only).
Top
Patient letters
Patients rather than GPs may receive medical letters directly from
their consultants.
The proposal is one of the ideas raised in the national consultation on
greater choice for patients in the care they receive.
Sending letters direct to patients is being widely encouraged by the Department
of Health as a way for patients to be kept better informed about their
medical conditions and treatment.
Further information is at www.doh.gov.uk/choiceconsultation
Top
Better patient safety report
The quality and safety of emergency operations performed in the NHS
is rising, according to an independent report.
Who Operates When, published by the National Confidential Enquiry
into Perioperative Deaths (NCEPOD), is drawn from a study covering nearly
75,000 operations in spring 2002.
Compared to the first NCEPOD study in 1997, the percentage of day time
operations carried out in the presence of a consultant surgeon has risen
from just over half to two-thirds.
The number of night time emergency operations performed by junior surgeons
has dropped from 350 in 1997 to about 70 in 2002, representing a fall
from two-thirds of total emergency night-time operations to a fifth.
NCEPOD calculates that 3,300 more emergency operations and 15,584 more
routine operations are being performed in the day time when more trained
staff are available than in 1997 – an increase of almost 50 per cent.
The full report is at www.ncepod.org.uk
Top
Monitoring risk management
The NHS Reviews Co-ordination Group has produced a progress report
on work to reduce the burdens of risk management reviews.
Contact David Bawden on 020 7716 5715 or more at www.chi.nhs.uk/nhsrcg
Top
Improving older people's services
This report brings together all the information collected by the Social
Services Inspectorate about older people's services provided by councils
with social services responsibilities for the year ending March 2003.
It presents an encouraging picture about the way that services are being
planned and delivered. Overall, councils and their partners were making
good progress with strategic and organisational developments. A series
of regional conferences will follow up these findings.
More at www.doh.gov.uk/ssi/olderpeople03.htm
Top
Older people’s services funding
An extra £100 million has been allocated to social services departments
to improve services for older people.
The additional funds are on top of the £220m councils have already been
allocated for older people’s services for 2004-2005.
Altogether councils will receive an extra £775 million for adult social
services next year - an 8.2 per cent increase on the current year.
The new money will be available to local authorities via the access and
systems capacity grant, which enables councils to build up their stock
of community-based social services and to promote older people's independence.
From January, the new reimbursement system for delayed discharges will
give councils another incentive to invest in older people's services.
Support for social services teams is available from the Department of
Health.
More at www.doh.gov.uk/ssi/socialcareolderpple.htm
Top
Breast screening extension
Nearly 5,000 women who have received supradiaphragmatic radiotherapy
for Hodgkin's disease are being targeted for regular breast screening.
The Department of Health is responding to findings by the National Cancer
Research Institute that women below the age of 35 who received such radiotherapy
since 1962 could have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
A leaflet has been produced by the Lymphoma Association which will be
available to GPs and practice nurses and a freephone helpline (0808 808
5555) has been set up for women who have been treated for Hodgkin's disease
and are concerned they may be at risk.
More at www.lymphoma.org.uk
Top
Lung cancer group
An advisory group, involving patients and charities, is being set
up to tackle the disease and a framework is being developed for the local
provision of diagnostic scanners.
The Department of Health will draw up a framework for the NHS to advise
local health care providers on how to plan installing more Positron Emission
Tomography (PET) scanners. This will encourage and enable hospital and
primary care trusts to work together to buy and fund more machines across
the country and improve access to the scans for patients.
More at www.doh.gov.uk/cancer
Top
Cancer survey by the National Audit Office
To undertake a national patient survey for its Cancer - the patient
experience study the NAO will be writing to 50 trusts for lists of
patients who will be sent voluntary questionnaires. The survey is based
on the Department of Health's 1999-2000 cancer patient survey, against
which progress will be measured.
Top
NHS foundation trusts and mental health and disabilities trusts
The Department of Health is working with mental health and learning
disabilities trusts and other key interests to consider how the NHS foundation
trust model would apply to mental health and learning disabilities trusts.
The aim, subject to legislation, is to publish additional guidance in
early 2004 with a view to inviting applications in summer 2004. Mental
health and disabilities trusts who would like to be involved in early
discussions on the model should contact helen.shirley-quirk@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Information on NHS foundation trust status is at www.doh.gov.uk/nhsfoundationtrusts
Top
Mental health workforce pledge
More staff will be employed and trained in mental health services
before proposed reforms are introduced into the NHS, the Department of
Health has confirmed.
An NHS Confederation report predicts the draft Mental Health Bill will
lead to a dramatic increase in workload for mental health service staff.
The department says it has estimated the financial and human resource
consequences and is taking action.
Assessment of implications of new mental health legislation on mental
health service organisations is at www.nhsconfed.org
More on the Mental Health Bill at www.doh.gov.uk/mentalhealth/legislationmhrt.htm
Top
Healing environments
The Enhancing the Healing Environment programme being run by
the NHS Estates, the Department of Health and the King’s Fund is being
extended.
The London-based programme is being rolled out to 23 more trusts across
the country - each with a budget of £35,000.
Funding is distributed to ward managers to transform patient waiting rooms
and wards with new pieces of art and sculpture.
This has helped patient recovery, cut aggressive behaviour among some
patients and improved staff recruitment and retention.
More at www.nhsestates.gov.uk
and www.enhancingthehealingenvironment.org.uk
Top
Ambulance leadership and integration
Improvements in leadership skills and better integration with the
NHS have been promised to ambulance services.
The Department of Health has announced a new programme, the Leadership
Development Portfolio.
Part of the Raising Standards improvement programme, designed to
see all NHS organisations achieve three star status, the development portfolio
will give ambulance trusts easier access to and funding for leadership
training for frontline staff and board members.
Future NHS Leadership Centre middle management development programmes
will also have places reserved on them for ambulance staff.
More at www.modern.nhs.uk/scripts/default.asp?site_id=60
Top
NHS Direct praised
The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) found the nurse-led telephone
advice service NHS Direct was well regarded by the public. It recorded
that staff were polite, professional and reassuring.
The most common calls requested advice on diabetes, fad diets, gout, ovarian
cysts, contraception, strokes, feeding babies, vitamin supplements, NHS
dental services and impotence drugs.
NHS Direct now receives 500,000 calls every month. The majority take place
outside normal GP surgery hours and a quarter concern children under five.
More at www.chi.nhs.uk
Top
Stop smoking products rebate scheme
New deals have been made with major pharmaceutical companies to provide
additional support and free stop smoking products. This will help the
NHS meet its targets on smoking cessation. More at www.doh.gov.uk/tobacco/pdfs/newdeal.pdf
Top
Statistics on smoking
Statistics on smoking cessation services in England, April 2002 to
March 2003, have been published.
More at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0321.htm
and www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0325.htm
Top
Potassium chloride safety controls
The National Patient Safety Agency is reviewing the safety controls
in place for potassium chloride concentrate following its alert in 2002,
and has written to all hospital chief pharmacists requesting a response.
More at www.doh.gov.uk/cebulletin/potassiumchloride.htm
Top
Anakinra for rheumatoid arthritis appraisal
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has announced that
appeals against its final appraisal determination on the use of anakinra
for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis have not been upheld. The final
guidance was formally issued to the NHS on 26 November.
The decision of the appeal panel is at www.nice.org.uk/anakinraappealdecision
A summary of the final guidance is www.nice.org.uk/TA072quickrefguide
Top
Tritace clarification
In response to NHS queries regarding concerns about Aventis's recent
decision to stop supplying Tritace capsules and supply only Tritace tablets,
the following clarification is provided. Given these concerns, Aventis
has now agreed to make its best efforts to provide the capsules until
mid-January 2004. This is to be achieved by repackaging other presentations
of the capsules and/or importation. Subject to global supply difficulties,
this means that Tritace should be available as capsules and tablets until
mid-January and as tablets thereafter. The generic alternative to Tritace,
ramipril, will be available as both capsules and tablets from mid-January.
Top
Medical science investment
A £10 million bioscience strategy has been launched.
A working group is being set up to develop practical proposals for improving
patient benefits from research conducted within the NHS.
In the UK there are more than 400 biotechnology businesses, employing
over 25,000 people with revenues of over £3 billion.
The investment is being made in response to a report published by the
Bioscience Innovation and Growth Team (BIGT) which recommends establishing
a National Clinical Trials Agency so that the NHS and industry can collaborate
to ensure patients and businesses benefit from trials of the latest cutting-edge
treatments.
More at www.bioindustry.org/bigtreport
Top
Pancreatic transplants
The Department of Health has announced that the number of pancreatic
transplants, which are usually combined with kidney transplants, are to
be increased to around 150 a year by 2008, boosted by the creation of
a national specialist pancreatic transplantation service.
The national commissioning of pancreatic operations will also ensure equal
access to regional centres for all NHS patients.
Seven centres in England are being designated as national facilities and
will receive funding from the National Specialist Commissioning Advisory
Group to provide the transplants.
These are: Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge; Churchill Hospital, Oxford;
Guy’s Hospital, London; Manchester Royal Infirmary; Royal Liverpool University
Hospital; St Mary’s Hospital, London and The Freeman Hospital, Newcastle.
Further information at www.doh.gov.uk/nsf/diabetes/index.htm
Top
Second annual report of the Retained Organs Commission
The report is at www.nhs.uk/retainedorgans/annualreport2.pdf
The commission is due to close on 31 March 2004. More at www.doh.gov.uk/cebulletin/closureroc.htm
Top
Sex selection ban
Parents should not be able to select the sex of their child for personal
reasons, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has recommended.
Sperm selection, which is currently unregulated, should only be permitted
for medical reasons and will be controlled by the HFEA.
This recommendation was made by the HFEA after a year-long public consultation
on sex selection and following specially commissioned research on scientific
and ethical issues.
The HFEA report Sex selection: options for regulation is at www.hfea.gov.uk
Top
Blanket cloning ban averted
Authorised research into cloning to help treat diseases such as Parkinson’s
and Alzheimer’s will continue in the UK after a call for a worldwide ban
was rejected.
The Government’s position on permitting cloning research and operations
for therapeutic reasons was supported by other countries after a United
Nations vote.
More at www.hfea.gov.uk
Top
Review of Central Returns (ROCR)
Any central data collection that does not display a unique ROCR reference
number is likely to be unauthorised and can be legitimately ignored. Information
on all currently approved collections (updated every two weeks) is at
www.doh.gov.uk/stats/rocr
Top
Department of Health change programme
The Department of Health is half way through an 18-month programme
which
will radically change the way it works, so that it provides more effective
leadership to the NHS and social care, and a better service to ministers
and the public. The Change Management Programme – the first and largest
of
its type in Whitehall – will help the department to stay at the forefront
of a new wave of reform right across Government, particularly the Prime
Minister's focus on improving public services.
More at www.doh.gov.uk/about/changeprogramme.htm
Top
SAFETY NOTICES
Medical device alerts
MDA/2003/035 – Medtronic SynchroMed implantable drug pump, issued
on 22 October to NHS trusts for immediate action.
MDA/2003/036 – blood pressure and vital signs patient monitors
- DINAMAP PRO 100-400 series and PRO 1000, issued on 23 October to NHS
trusts for immediate action.
MDA/2003/037 – electrosurgical (diathermy) accessories, issued
on 27 October 2003 to NHS trusts for update.
MDA/2003/038 – Sunrise Breezy SL manual wheelchair with 16" (40
cm) seat canvas depth and 24" (60 cm) rear wheels, issued on 29 October
to NHS trusts and social services for action and update.
MDA/2003/039 – anaesthetic vaporizers (all manufacturers), issued
on 6 November to NHS trusts for immediate action.
MDA/2003/040 – personal seat wheelchair seat cushion manufactured
by Invacare, issued on 12 November to NHS trusts and social services for
immediate action.
MDA/2003/041 – BioMerieux Trepanostika TP Recombinant, issued on
17 November to NHS trusts for immediate action.
More at www.mhra.gov.uk
Top
Hazard notice
Hazard notice issued by NHS Estates:
Heated lotion cabinet (Pre circa 1985)
Risk - asbestos related disease (if prolonged or repeated exposure). Hazard
notice - NHSE SN (2003) 06 issued 3 November.
For further information contact NHS Estates or the Centre of Healthcare
Engineering, e-mail nhsestates@doh.gsi.gov.uk
and more at www.nhsestates.gov.uk
under Healthcare Engineering
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