[ad_1]
The government will look into allegations that the NHS has been slow to take a "dangerous" automatic syringe out of order.
He follows the warning of a whistleblower, reported in the Sunday Times, that the devices could have caused widespread deaths in elderly patients.
Syringes, used to give powerful painkillers, were used until 2015.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said there were questions about how quickly the NHS reacted "when we knew these syringes were dangerous."
NHS officials issued warnings on the risk of death following a user error in the 1990s, but devices continued to be licensed by the NHS until there were three years.
Doctors feared that confusion between two models of infusion pumps would result in the administration of a daily dose of medication in one hour.
Mr Hunt said: "We need to be absolutely certain that the NHS reacts as quickly as possible when you have suggestions that an equipment is not safe.
"Urgent advice was sent in 2010 and they were finally removed from use in 2015, but let's see if it was as fast as it should have been."
Last week, the government's investigation into hundreds of deaths at Gosport War Memorial Hospital revealed that more than 450 patients died after receiving powerful painkillers inappropriately.
- Hospital drugs killed 456 people
- The scandals that haunt the NHS
Speaking to the Sunday Times, the whistle-blower said the panel's investigators had "ignored" evidence that the devices had caused deaths because they were worried about the situation. A national scandal.
The paper says syringes were also linked to overdose-related deaths in Wales, South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
"Anyone who has lost his grandmother in the last 30 years when opiates have been administered by this equipment will wonder," Is that what killed Mamie? ", Said the news launcher to the newspaper.
Mr. Hunt stated that the allegations of cover-up had been "categorically denied" by the independent panel, which had a "free hand", adding "they thought there was a problem with the drivers of syringes, I know they would have said ".
Multimedia playback is not supported on your device
What were the syringe warnings?
- The syringe drivers, called Graseby MS26 and Graseby MS16A, were loaded with capsules and programmed to release drugs into the blood of a patient over a long period of time.
- They delivered drugs at different rates – MS26 delivered in mm per 24 hours, MS16A delivered in mm per hour
- Cases of confusion have been observed in drivers, leading to a dangerous overdose of drugs
- The NHS's Procurement and Supply Agency (PSA) said the devices appeared "very similar to color"
- Hazard warnings were issued by the Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to ensure that NHS staff knew the difference between the models.
In 1994, the NHS of Scotland issued a warning of danger warning against the risk of death due to confusion between the two models, so that drugs are issued at an incorrect rate.
Australia and New Zealand had programs in the late 2000s to remove the devices from their use.
An article published in 2008 by the NHS's Purchasing and Supply Agency (PSA), which was closed in 2010, said the devices were an "essential component of palliative care."
It is estimated that 40,000 devices – a quarter of the world total – were in the United Kingdom, the majority in primary care.
The syringes were briefly mentioned in the report published Wednesday on deaths at Gosport War Memorial Hospital.
The report says: "The panel has reviewed the issues regarding syringe pilots, known by their Graseby trade name, and is aware of the danger notices that apply.
"The panel's analysis is not based on any questions relating to these opinions."
A spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs said: "Although there is a series of legal requirements to monitor and improve the safe management and use of controlled drugs, we We will not hesitate to take further steps to improve security. "
Source link
