§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are being taken in(a) Middlesex and (b) the rest of England to tighten up procedures and security to prevent accidents or sabotage from objects being placed in tubes used in the conduct of operations and to protect patients. [7161]
§ Mr. HuttonThe incident at Broomfield hospital, and others of a similar nature in other hospitals, are being investigated by the Essex police force. Once the findings 1029W of those investigations are available, procedures will be reviewed and, if appropriate, additional measures will be implemented.
In the meantime the following actions have been taken:
On 17 August 2001 advice was sent to chief executives of all national health service trusts (England) and chief executives of health authorities (England) reminding them of:
the Medical Devices Agency Hazard Notice MD HN 2001(02) on the risk of blockages on anaesthetic breathing system components;to follow already established pre-employment personnel checks in existing guidance documents HSG(94)51 and strengthened and expanded in HSG(97)064;to review security arrangements, particularly operating theatres and intensive care units, with reference to the guidance in the NHS Security Manual.A further Hazard Notice HN 2001 (03) re-emphasising the above has been issued by the MDA in September.