§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department is taking to persuade manufacturers of potassium chloride solution to redesign packaging to avoid adverse incidents in hospital; and if he will make a statement. [167406]
§ Mr. HuttonThe National Patient Safety Agency has worked with practitioners, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the pharmaceutical industry to agree new labelling standards for strong potassium chloride solutions requiring a distinctive red 'K' on these products, with suitable warnings.
Labelling standards have also been agreed for potassium chloride infusion products to help distinguish them from infusions that do not contain potassium.
The National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency has already written to all current contracted suppliers of medicinal products to say that it will, in future, award contracts to reflect the application of MHRA guidance on labelling of products, including potassium chloride solutions.