Medical Device Alert: Hoists and standing aids manufactured by BHM Medical Inc (MDA/2010/022)

If you are in England, please send enquiries about this notice to the MHRA, quoting reference number MDA/2010/022 or 2010/002/004/601/001.

John Ward
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Market Towers
1 Nine Elms Lane
London
SW8 5NQ

Tel: 020 7084 3232
Fax: 020 7084 3209

Email: john.ward@mhra.gsi.gov.uk

Maurice Rand
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Centre for Assistive Technology
241 Bristol Avenue
Bispham
Blackpool
FY2 0BR

Tel: 01253 596 000
Fax: 01253 596 177

Email: bav@mhra.gsi.gov.uk

How to report adverse incidents
Please report via our website: Reporting adverse incidents involving medical devices.
Further information about CAS can be found on the Central Alerting System website (external link).

Alerts in Northern Ireland will continue to be distributed via the NI SABS system.

Enquiries and adverse incident reports in Northern Ireland should be addressed to:

Northern Ireland Adverse Incident Centre (NIAIC)
Health Estates Investment Group
Room 17, Annex 6
Castle Buildings
Stormont Estate
Dundonald
BT4 3SQ

Tel: 028 9052 3704
Fax: 028 9052 3900

Email: NIAIC@dhsspsni.gov.uk

Northern Ireland Adverse Incident Centre (NIAIC) (external link)

How to report adverse incidents in Northern Ireland
Please report directly to NIAIC, further information can be found on the NIAIC website (external link).
Further information about SABS can be found on the SABS website (external link).

Enquiries and adverse incident reports in Scotland should be addressed to:

Incident Reporting and Investigation Centre
Health Facilities Scotland
NHS National Services Scotland
Gyle Square
1 South Gyle Crescent
Edinburgh
EH12 9EB

Tel: 0131 275 7575
Fax: 0131 314 0722

Email: nss.iric@nhs.net

Health Facilities Scotland - Incident Reporting and Investigation Centre (external link).

Enquiries in Wales should be addressed to:

Dr Sara Hayes
Senior Medical Officer
Medical Device Alerts
Welsh Assembly Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ

Tel: 029 2082 3922

Email: Haz-Aic@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Risk of electric shock when the hoist is connected to the mains supply with a single insulated power cable for battery charging.

An incident occurred where the single insulated cable was damaged during use and the hoist structure subsequently became ‘live’ when the hoist was connected to the mains supply for battery recharging. The manufacturer is contacting local distributors in the UK, but has so far not been able to reach end users.

• Locate these models of hoists and standing aids.
• Arrange for them to be inspected to determine if they have a single insulated power cable.
• If a single insulated power cable is fitted, remove the hoist/standing aid from use and contact Huntleigh Healthcare for a replacement cable to be fitted.

This MDA has been distributed to:

• NHS trusts in England (Chief Executives)
• Care Quality Commission (CQC)
• HSC trusts in Northern Ireland (Chief Executives)
• NHS boards in Scotland (Chief Executives)
• NHS boards and trusts in Wales (Chief Executives)
• OFSTED
• Primary care trusts in England (Chief Executives)
• Social services in England (Directors)
• Social services in Scotland (Chief Executives)

Onward distribution
Please bring this notice to the attention of all who need to know or be aware of it. This may include distribution by:

Trusts to:
CAS and SABS (NI) liaison officers for onward distribution to all relevant staff including:

• all wards
• equipment store managers
• maintenance staff and contractors
• moving and handling co-ordinators
• nurses
• nursing executive directors
• occupational therapists
• physiotherapists
• risk managers

Care Quality Commission (CQC) (England only) to:
The MHRA considers this information to be important to:

• care homes providing nursing care (adults)
• care homes providing personal care (adults)
• domiciliary care providers
• further education colleges registered as care homes 
• hospices
• hospitals in the independent sector
• nursing agencies

OFSTED to:
The MHRA considers this to be important to:

• educational establishments with facilities for the disabled 
• residential special schools

Primary care trusts to:
CAS liaison officers for onward distribution to all relevant staff including:

• community hospitals
• district nurses
• equipment store managers
• maintenance staff and contractors
• moving and handling co-ordinators
• occupational therapists
• palliative care team
• physiotherapists
• risk managers

Social services to: 
Liaison officers for onward distribution to all relevant staff including: 

• care at home staff
• care management team managers 
• community care staff
• equipment store managers
• in-house domiciliary care providers (personal care services in the home) 
• in-house residential care homes
• moving and handling co-ordinators
• occupational therapists

Paul Lovell
Huntleigh Healthcare Ltd
310-312 Dallow Road
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 1TD

Tel: 01582 745751
Fax: 01582 745725