Safety warnings, alerts and recalls

This section includes current and historic:

• drug alerts on defective medicines
• medical device alerts and their predecessors
• safety warnings and messages about medicines, including letters sent to health professionals.

Latest safety warnings, alerts and recalls

• 17 May 2013 | Medical Device Alert: Paradigm ambulatory insulin infusion pumps manufactured by Medtronic (MDA/2013/035)
  

  This Medical Device Alert has been issued due to a risk of compromised insulin therapy, which may lead to severe hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose) or severe hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose).

• 14 May 2013 | Medical Device Alert: RÜSCH Macintosh laryngoscopes manufactured by M.A. Arain & Brothers (PVT) Ltd and distributed in the UK by Teleflex (RÜSCH) (MDA/2013/034)
  

  This Medical Device Alert has been issued as there is the potential for the light to flicker or fail when using RÜSCH Macintosh laryngoscopes manufactured by M.A. Arain & Brothers (PVT) Ltd during intubation due to a loose connection between the battery and the battery cap.

• 10 May 2013 | Medical Device Alert: Diacap® Ultra dialysis fluid filter manufactured by B. Braun Avitum AG (MDA/2013/033)
  

  This Medical Device Alert has been issued due to a risk of a gradual increased fluid removal when using Diacap® Ultra dialysis fluid filters manufactured by B. Braun Avitum AG.

• 09 May 2013 | Medical Device Alert: Defibrillators/monitors used for external pacing with non-invasive transcutaneous pacemaker modules - all manufacturers and all models (MDA/2013/032)
  

  This Medical Device Alert has been issued due to a risk of inadequate external pacing, leading to potential periods of asystole, syncope and possible death.

• 09 May 2013 | Medical Device Alert: Hospital beds: Dynamis and Gerialit with Dewert electrical control systems manufactured by Hill-Rom (MDA/2013/031)
  

  This Medical Device Alert has been issued due to the risk of serious injury to patients, staff and visitors when using hospital beds manufactured by Hill-Rom.

• 09 May 2013 | MedicalDeviceAlert: Single use syringes: 50 ml Luer lock manufactured by Terumo Europe (MDA/2013/030)
  

  This Medical Device Alert has been issued as there is a risk of delay or interruption to treatment when using single use syringes manufactured by Terumo Europe.

• 08 May 2013 | Medical Device Alert: Reinforced endotracheal (ET) tubes manufactured by Unomedical (a ConvaTec company) (MDA/2013/029)
  

  This MDA has beend issues as affected tubes may delaminate, which can lead to constriction of the lumen, resulting in a reduction of airflow to the patient.

• 07 May 2013 | Class 4 Drug Alert (Caution in Use): Aurum Pharmaceuticals Limited (trading as Martindale Pharma) - Adrenaline (Epinephrine) Injection 1:10,000 1mg/10ml, Amiodarone Injection 30mg/ml, Ephedrine Hydrochloride Injection 3mg/ml - EL 13(A)13 Rev 1
  

  Aurum Pharmaceuticals Limited (trading as Martindale Pharma) has informed the MHRA that there is a misalignment of the syringe label of pre-filled syringe batches.

• 02 May 2013 | Information sent to healthcare professionals in April about the safety of medicines
  

  Copies of letters sent to healthcare professionals in April 2013 to inform of new safety information and advice.

• 02 May 2013 | Class 4 Drug Alert (Caution in Use): Ativan Injection 4mg/ml - Pfizer Limited - EL (13)A/14
  

  Pfizer Limited has informed us that during routine testing and subsequent investigation of some unreleased batches of Ativan Injection which had been subjected to automated visible inspection during manufacture, a very small number of ampoules containing glass particles were identified. Recipients of this Drug Alert should bring it to the attention of relevant contacts by copy of this letter. Local area teams are asked to forward this to relevant clinics, general practitioners and community pharmacists for information.