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(All) MHRA continues to receive reports of adverse events related to patient lifts and slings used in hospitals and communities that have caused serious patient injury or death. (MDA/2007/031)

Deadline for action of the Security Alarm Broadcasting System (SABS)

Deadline (action in progress): June 29, 2007 Deadline (action completed): August 31, 2007

Falls caused by poor compatibility of slings and hoists, improper cleaning of slings, and improper maintenance of patient hoists used in hospitals and communities.

Cranes and slings are used to transfer patients, which is usually very successful.

However, MHRA continues to receive reports of adverse events involving patient lifts and slings used in hospitals and communities. Some of these events have resulted in serious patient injury or death.

Some examples of these events are:

This alert replaces the previously revoked SN9829 (July 1998) and SN1999 (29) (September 1999) notices.

All personnel involved in the supply, maintenance or use of these equipment, especially nurses, nursing staff, laundry staff, and maintenance staff or contractors.

Please bring this notice to the attention of all those who need to know or understand it. This may include distribution through:

SABS liaison officer for forwarding to all relevant personnel, including:

Health Care Commission (CHAI) to: Headquarters, then distributed to:

Social Care Supervisory Committee (CSCI):

Headquarters distributed to:

SABS liaison officer for forwarding to all relevant personnel, including:

The liaison will be distributed to all relevant personnel, including:

Inquiries to MHRA should quote reference number 2006/011/013/291/004 and send to:

John Ward or Sharon Knight Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Market Towers 1 Nine Elms Lane London SW8 5NQ Tel: 020 7084 3232/3202 Fax: 020 7084 3209

Email: john.ward@mhra.gov.uk & sharon.knight@mhra.gov.uk

Jonathan Plumb Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Market Towers 1 Nine Elms Lane London SW8 5NQ Tel: 020 7084 3218 Fax: 020 7084 3111

Email: jonathan.plumb@mhra.gov.uk

Change of address of the Health Care Commission or removal from the address list:

CSCI Customer Service Unit St Nicholas Building St Nicholas Street Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 1NB Tel: 0845 015 0120 Email: enquiries@csci.gsi.gov.uk

Health Care Commission Finsbury Tower 103-105 Bunhill Row London EC1Y 8TG Tel: 020 7448 0842

Email: contacts@healthcarecommission.org.uk

Accidents related to medical devices must be reported to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as soon as possible.

For more information on reporting incidents; online incident reporting facility; MHRA website (http://www.mhra.gov.uk) provides downloadable reporting forms.

Alternatively, more information and a printed incident report form can be obtained from:

MHRA Adverse Events Center, Market Towers, 1 Nine Elms Lane London SW8 5NQ

Telephone 020 7084 3080 or fax 020 7084 3109 or email: aic@mhra.gov.uk (answering calls service operates outside normal office hours)

The full text of the medical device alert is available on the MHRA website: http://www.mhra.gov.uk

For more information about SABS, please visit www.info.doh.gov.uk/sar2/cmopatie.nsf

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