NPSA issues interventional radiology surgical checklist

The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has issued a surgical checklist for interventional radiology to improve patient safety in NHS hospitals.

The checklist is the first of its kind in Europe, and has been based on the Surgical Safety Checklist developed by the World Health Organisation. It was developed in partnership with the Royal College of Radiologists, following 16,112 reports of patient safety incidents involving radiology between 1 January and 31 December 2009.

The new checklist requires radiologists to:

• ensure that procedures are carried out in line with the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (2000)
• check renal function and risk of bleeding before surgery commences
• make a note of any implanted devices before surgery commences
• label all specimens.

Radiologists will also be obliged to fulfil all of the checks specified by the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist, such as marking the site where surgery is required.