Action needed to ensure safer use of infusion devices
Trusts have too wide a range of infusion devices and many are of too high a specification for everyday use, according to the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA). This was one of the findings of a study conducted by the
NPSA to determine the root causes of over 700 unsafe incidents involving
infusion devices reported nationally each year. Other causes include the
fact that staff training is not a priority and is not competency based,
and that devices of the same type have multiple configurations and react
differently under the same circumstances.
Infusion devices are the target of a safer practice notice issued by the
NPSA in May. This followed a pilot study in six acute trusts, which found
321 reported incidents linked to infusion devices each year. Thirty-one
different types of infusion device were available for use, yet 65 per cent
of them were idle for most of the time.
The NPSA has produced a toolkit which supports a review of infusion devices
available. One of the benefits of using the toolkit is that the pilot study
suggested that trusts could save £120,000 a year by better management
of infusion devices.
The NPSA points out that 15 million infusions are performed in the NHS
every year, and the vast majority are delivered safely. However, 19 per
cent of unsafe incidents are attributed to user error. The toolkit, and
further information is available here
NPSA safer practice notice — action for
NHS acute trusts
· Review how purchasing decisions are made for infusions devices
· Evaluate the necessity of an infusion pump before
it is purchased
· Reduce the range of infusion device types in use, and within each
type, have agreed default configurations
· Investigate the benefits of a centralised equipment storage library |
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Hospital Pharmacist