Medical Device Alert: Liftmaster 160 and 190 electrical hoist manufactured by Patterson Medical Ltd (MDA/2010/049)

If you are in England, please send enquiries about this notice to the MHRA, quoting reference number MDA/2010/049 or 2009/011/012/301/001.

Technical aspects
Brian Mather or David Small
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

Clinical aspects
Jonathan Plumb
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Market Towers
1 Nine Elms Lane
London
SW8 5NQ

Tel: 020 7084 3128
Fax: 020 7084 3111

Email: jonathan.plumb@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
Health Estates Investment Group
Room 17
Annex 6
Castle Buildings
Stormont Estate
Dundonald
BT4 3SQ

Tel: 02890 523 704
Fax: 02890 523 900

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

The boom and spreader bar assembly may detach from the hoist during use, with the potential for the occupant to fall and sustain serious injury.

Patterson Medical has issued a Field Safety Notice but is unable to trace all affected assemblies.

In June 1999, the manufacturer introduced a new method of locating the boom due to the potential for the assembly coming off the locating pins during use. They also replaced the 10 mm bolt that secured the spreader bar with a 16 mm machined pin. The manufacturer wrote to customers asking that they stop using the hoist. Users were asked to return their boom and spreader bar assemblies to the manufacturer in return for free-of-charge replacements.

Due to the poor response, the manufacturer wrote again to users in May 2002.

A further incident has been reported where the original design of boom and spreader bar assembly had not been replaced.

• Inspect each hoist to see if the new design of boom and spreader bar assembly has been fitted (see figure 1, under Device tab).
• Remove from use any hoists fitted with the original design boom and spreader bar assembly (see figure 2, under Device tab).
• For these hoists, contact Patterson Medical to arrange for the supply of a replacement assembly.

This MDA has been distributed to:

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

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 beds for children
• Residential special schools

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

• Community hospitals
• Equipment store managers
• Maintenance staff and contractors
• Moving and handling co-ordinators
• Nurses
• 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
• 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

Debbie Banks
Patterson Medical Ltd
Nunn Brook Road
Huthwaite
Sutton-in-Ashfield
Nottinghamshire
NG17 2HU

Tel: 01623 448700
Fax: 01623 448820

Email: Debbie.banks@patterson-medical.com