§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to introduce national(a) standards and(b) assessments for NHS staff who use electronic medical equipment in the NHS; [29772]
(2) what work is being carried out by (a) his Department and (b) the NHS Executive to raise the standards of NHS staff who operate electronic medical equipment within the NHS; [29774]
1071W(3) what plans he has to introduce training for NHS staff in the use of electronic medical equipment in the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [29775]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 25 January 2002]: National health service clinicians learn to operate an appropriate range of electronic medical equipment as part of their basic professional education. The Department does not set the curricula for pre-registration and undergraduate health professional education. This is a matter for the professional regulatory bodies.
Developing and maintaining the standards and skills of NHS staff who use electronic medical equipment is the responsibility of individual local NHS employers working in partnership with regulatory and professional bodies. However, as part of Medical Devices Agency's (MDA's) guidance and leverage programme, the MDA provide information routinely to health care professionals which assists in the training and safe use of electronic medical equipment and devices. This information is in the form of: device safety alerts, covering specific device related problems; technical notes; device bulletins; posters; and other written communications. Device bulletins in particular cover in more detail general device issues and have included training and management guidance.
The MDA has issued advice on "Medical Devices and Equipment Management for Hospitals and Community-based Organisations" (DB 9801 January 1998). The MDA have also co-operated with professional bodies and training organisations in developing targeted training for health care workers using electronic medical devices and equipment.