National adverse incident reporting and safety alert systems for medical devices, estates, facilities, social care equipment and PPE

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NHS incidents and alerts safety officers

Local authority incidents and alerts safety officers

For information

IRIC product specialists

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Specialist liaison list

This Safety Action Notice has been published by NHS National Services Scotland.  It applies to NHS Boards, local authorities and any contractors providing publicly funded health and social care services. 

IMPORTANT

Onward distributionAs the nominated person for your organisation you need to forward this information to managers and staff in your organisation who need to know or be aware of it.

Adverse Incidents

Incidents and near-misses should always be reported to local incident management systems (often referred to as Datix, Ullyses, SHE, etc.). However, IRIC also needs to be informed about incidents and near-misses when they involve:

• Medical devices (e.g. infusion pump, central line, hoist, care bed, x-ray machine, ventilator)
• In vitro diagnostic devices or IVDs (e.g. blood analyser, reagent, SARS-CoV-2 test kit)
• Estates and facilities (e.g. electrical installations, window restrictors, nurse call systems)
• Social care equipment (e.g. mobile wheeled commode, powered rise and recline chair)
• Personal protective equipment or PPE (e.g. visors, FFP3 respirators, aprons)

We need incident reports so we can work with manufacturers and our partners to stop the same thing happening again. Health and care professionals can also report safety concerns about equipment and devices when an incident or near-miss has yet to occur. Information about how to report an incident to IRIC can be found here: https://www.nss.nhs.scot/health-facilities/incidents-and-alerts/report-an-incident/  

Enquiries
If you received this alert directly from IRIC, email us at nss.iric@nhs.scot or phone0131 275 7575 quoting the alert reference number.Alternatively, if you have received this message from someone in your own organisation, please direct all enquiries to them and they will liaise with IRIC as required.

Incident Reporting & Investigation Centre (IRIC)

Health Facilities Scotland

NHS National Services Scotland

Contact us:

IRIC Email         nss.iric@nhs.scot

Helpline             0131 275 7575

Web                 https://www.nss.nhs.scot/browse/health-facilities/incidents-and-alerts

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NHS National Services Scotland is the common name for the Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service. www.nhsnss.org

FAC406-205, 7D(iii), Rev 5