NPSA infusion device toolkit: a cost‐saving way to improve patient safety
- Resource Type
- Academic Journal
- Authors
- Quinn, Chris; Stevenson, Elaine; Glenister, Helen
- Source
- Clinical Governance: An International Journal, 2004, Vol. 9, Issue 3, pp. 195-199.
- Subject
- e-conceptual-paper
Conceptual paper
e-literature-review
Literature review
cat-HSC
Health & social care
cat-HMAN
Healthcare management
cat-HSQ
Health service quality
cat-HSD
Health service delivery
Medical equipment
Safety
Patient care
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 1477-7274
The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has been established to reduce the risk of patient safety incidents and promote learning across the National Health Service that will improve patient safety and help organisations to learn from the experience of others. One of the first projects has been to look at the way that infusion devices are purchased, stored and used within hospitals. This work has resulted in a number of recommendations centred on simplifying the range of devices available, using a centralised system to maximise use of the equipment and ensuring that staff are properly trained. The work has also involved manufacturers in the hope that future developments in equipment design will result in more user‐friendly devices that will reduce the risk of misuse and any consequent harm to patients. NPSA has just issued its first Safer Practice Notice to Trusts to highlight the issues around infusion devices and offer NHS organisations a toolkit to help them improve patient safety and make significant cost savings.