Patient safety alert issued as hospital pharmacists report oxygen cylinder shortages

摘要

Hospital trusts in England have been asked to risk assess the use of portable oxygen cylinders and areas where patients are receiving acute care without access to piped gas. A ‘National Patient Safety Alert (https:/ /www.cas.mhra.gov.uk/ViewandAcknowledgment/ViewAlert.aspxAlertID=103223) ‘ , issued on 10 January 2023 by NHS England and NHS Improvement, said that trusts must review their implementation of NHS England guidance on safe use of oxygen cylinders and complete a risk assessment no later than 20 January 2023. The alert said that 120 patient safety incidents related to cylinders were reported within the past 12 months, adding that “there is a need to conserve oxygen cylinder use to ensure a robust supply chain process” . “During periods of extreme pressure, often exacerbated by a surge in respiratory conditions, demand on supplies of oxygen cylinders, especially the smaller sizes, increases in the NHS due to the need to provide essential oxygen treatment in areas without access to medical gas pipeline systems, ” it added.