The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7259 p108
26 July 2003

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National Patient Safety Agency (www.npsa.nhs.uk)

Safety controls rise after first NPSA alert

The number of hospitals implementing formal safety controls on potassium chloride has more than doubled since the National Patient Safety Agency issued its first safety alert in July 2002.

Research conducted by the NPSA and the University of York showed that, before the alert, formal written safety controls were in place in only 25 per cent of National Health Service trusts. This had risen to 68 per cent six months after the alert was issued and is expected to continue to rise, says the NPSA.

The alert also prompted a 27 per cent drop in the use of undiluted potassium chloride, which is being replaced by safer, diluted quantities of the drug.