Medical Device Training

The accidental misuse of medical devices can be a major risk of harm to a patient.

In the UK between 1990 & 2000 there were 1,495 incidents serious enough to be reported to the MHRA involving infusion pumps alone.

• About a quarter were attributed to mechanical faults
•  About a quarter were attributed to user error.
• The raining half had no cause reported or insufficient information but if mechanical faults can be ruled out this can only leave user errors.

This is roughly one incident every other day, three quarters of which could have been avoided by the correct use of the equipment.

Because of the potential to cause injury to a patient Medical Device Training is a key requirement of NHSLA:

1.2.7 The organisation has approved documentation which describes the process for ensuring that all permanent staff are trained to safely use diagnostic and therapeutic equipment appropriate to their role.

2.2.8 The organisation can demonstrate implementation of the approved document(s) that describes the processes for ensuring that all staff are competent to use medical devices/equipment appropriate to their role.

3.2.8 The organisation can demonstrate that there are systems in place to monitor the overall effectiveness of the approved document(s) that describes the processes for ensuring that all staff are competent to use medical devices/equipment appropriate to their role.

To achieve this training there is a team of three people led by Robert Kightley.

Contact Info: Robert Kightley Telephone: 02392286000 Ext 5735

They provide direct training on a wide range of equipment and can act as a point of contact to arrange training on specialised equipment. This training is backed up by a verification of competency.