The current strains on the NHS have contributed to 120 patient safety incidents involving oxygen cylinders, according to an alert issued by NHS officials. The main problems highlighted in the alert are linked to issues with the devices.
The errors, recorded over the last year, include, failing to switch cylinders, or staff giving patients empty cylinders.
Some cases have led patients to “serious deterioration and cardiac or respiratory arrest” due to staff compromising the delivery of oxygen to patients.
This is obviously a big cause for concern, especially when there are increased surges of respiratory illness in hospitals at the moment due to flu and Covid-19 which can lead to increased use of oxygen cylinders in areas that are not attached to medical gas pipelines. This could mean people who are being treated in corridors or side rooms and need oxygen will not be able to receive it, as their location will not likely have a connection to the main supply system.
The NHS patient safety alert stated:
“During periods of extreme pressure, often exacerbated by a surge in respiratory conditions, demand on supplies of oxygen cylinders… increases in the NHS due to the need to provide essential oxygen treatment in areas without access to medical gas pipeline systems.”
There are further errors that be been recorded, which include the “inappropriate” transportation of the cylinders and the cylinders not being hooked up correctly.
NHS Trusts have been requested to ensure that all risk safety assessments are carried out where patients do not have routine access to medical gas pipeline systems.
The document issued to A&E departments states:
“In the last 12 months (the NHS in England) identified 120 patient safety incidents, including those with these themes: cylinder empty at point of use; cylinder not switched on; cylinders inappropriately transported; cylinders inappropriately secured.
“Some of these reports described compromised oxygen delivery to patients, leading to serious deterioration and cardiac and respiratory arrest.”
Comment
The issues raised in the alert are a serious concern for patient safety and the NHS must make serious improvements. When patient safety is at risk, this has to be the highest priority in terms of looking at what can be done.
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Helen Wilkinson is a Paralegal in our expert Medical Negligence team, which has been ranked in tier one by the independently researched publication, The Legal 500.
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