Obstetrics and gynaecology practitioners use and manage a wide range of medicines and medical devices. This page has been specifically adapted to the needs of obstetrics and gynaecology practitioners. It includes guidance, safety alerts and links to educational material to assist obstetrics and gynaecology practitioners in the safe use and management of medicines and medical devices.
News and hot topics
01 Feb 2012 | Medical Device Alert: Catheter valve manufactured by Coloplast (MDA/2012/003)
This Medical Device Alert has been issued as Coloplast are recalling this product due to a sterility issue associated with the catheter valve.
12 Jan 2012 | Drug Safety Update: January 2012 (Volume 5, Issue 6)
Drug Safety Update is essential reading for all healthcare professionals, bringing you the very latest information and advice to support the safer use of medicines.
11 Jan 2012 | PIP breast implants: Letters to professionals from David Nicholson and Chief Medical Officer
The Chief Executive of the NHS Sir David Nicholson, and Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies have written to health professionals with updates on PIP breast implants.
06 Dec 2011 | Agency’s first elective prize for medical students awarded
A medical student with a special interest in hip replacement surgery, Ashley Matthies, is the recipient of the Agency’s first Trainee Doctors Advisory Board (TRAB) elective prize. The prize, worth £500, was introduced for the first time this year.
24 Nov 2011 | Reducing medicines risk - Learning package on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
We have just launched a learning module on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) antidepressants for clinical practitioners.
Drug Alerts
Manufacturers and importers are obliged to report to the MHRA any quality defect in a medicinal product which could result in a recall or restriction on supply. Other users and distributors of medicinal products are also encouraged to do this.
Drug Safety Update (DSU)
Recent MHRA guidance and publications
Go to the guidance and publications related to obstetrics and gynaecology
Links to further information
| British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (external link) |
| Centre for Evidence-based Purchasing (external link) |
| Intrapartum care: management and delivery of care to women in labour (NICE) (external link) |
| National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) (external link) |
| NHS National Library for Health (external link) |
| Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (external link) |
| MHRA information and guidance |
| Information on the risks and benefits of hormonal contraceptives |
| Information on the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) |
Updates to your inbox
Reporting of adverse incidents or adverse drug reactions
Any actual, suspected, potential or avoided adverse event should be reported. Further examples of cases which should be reported are available in the sections below. If in doubt, please report. You can help us by reporting adverse incidents. These reports enable us to identify medical devices and medicines that are of concern and allow us to take appropriate action.
What should I report if I suspect a medicine is associated with an adverse reaction?
Please complete a Yellow Card to report suspected adverse reactions to prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, or herbal remedies. For further information, please see www.yellowcard.gov.uk (external link).
Please clarify what a medical device is and what I should report?
Please see our section on reporting safety problems.
Medical Device Alerts
Medical Device Alerts (MDAs) are the MHRA's prime means of communicating safety information to medical device users in health and social care. This page provides links to MDAs we have published that are of particular relevance to obstetrics and gynaecology. To see a complete list of our MDAs, please visit the Medical Device Alert section of our website.
Go to the Medical Device Alerts related to obstetrics and gynaecology
Report counterfeit medicines and devices
If you have been offered what you suspect to be counterfeit products, or have seen them for sale or have bought them we would like you to tell us.
If you have any concerns or information that may assist us in tracking down those responsible for counterfeit medicines and devices you can:
- email the Enforcement Group at counterfeit@mhra.gsi.gov.uk
- ring our 24 hour dedicated hotline on 020 3080 6701
- write to us at Counterfeits, The Intelligence Unit, MHRA, 151 Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria, London, SW1W 9SZ.
Find out more about counterfeit medicines and medical devices
Interactive education modules
Annually many patients and staff are injured needlessly by medical devices that are either used incorrectly or badly maintained. These injuries are often due to user error or poor systems of work, not the device function or design. In these education packages we have tried to give a generic overview of some of the devices that have been reported to us as problematic.
We have produced a series of educational packages that are simple to use, informative and should take no more than thirty minutes to work through. They have all been developed by MHRA staff, some in conjunction with and endorsement by royal colleges and some attract CPD points. They provide valuable dos and don’ts when using and operating medical devices.
One Liners
One Liners is a short, news sheet for healthcare professionals which highlight problems with medical devices. It is a review of user issues that have been brought to our attention and are generally reports of continuing misuse of simple medical equipment.
All medical devices can fail but an increasing number of incidents reported arise out of user problems or poor practices. The aim of the One Liner is to briefly detail some of these problems in an attempt to make users more aware of what can go wrong - it is all too easy to take equipment for granted.
