MEDICAL GAS SYSTEMS
understanding and planning the MGPS involvement in the COVID-19 response, including the impact of ward moves and the choice of oxygen therapy, were better able to respond to demands on the MGPS system.”
HSIB makes a number of
recommendations to improve cross- disciplinary understanding of oxygen systems. These included changes to the management structures, the ownership of medical gas systems, and improved training for all involved with the delivery of medical gases. (Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch I2020/022). One of the key takeaways from the
two documents above is the strong recommendation that the Chief Pharmacists chair the Medical Gas Committee, and as such the following document was issued in January 2021 to Chief Pharmacists: Chief Pharmacist Responsibilities: Medical Gases – Clinical oversight of storage, supply and usage (January 2021, Version 2.1).4
Feedback
from MGPS APs indicates that many NHS Trusts do now indeed have the Chief Pharmacist chairing the Medical Gas Committee.
Practical training on a specially designed medical gas workstation. Hands-on experience is central to the Eastwood Park ethos.
should be structured and linked to risk assessments and associated control measures, including procedures. In safety- critical environments, on-the-job training should be supported by other forms of training where appropriate, e.g. classroom training, and simulation.”1
The changing medical gas landscape Numerous lessons have been learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic, both from a technical standpoint, and from the managerial relationships within healthcare organisations. All of these will undoubtedly inform the content in any future revision of HTM 02-01. While there are a number of documents
that have been issued, we will look at three of these and their key points: Performance of healthcare cryogenic liquid oxygen systems, NHS ref C0871 (November 2021),2
pandemic,3
Oxygen issues during the COVID-19 and Medical Gases – Clinical
oversight of storage, supply and usage (NHS Pharmaceutical QA Committee – Medical Gas Sub Group).4
Performance of healthcare cryogenic liquid oxygen systems Predominantly a technical guide focusing
20 Health Estate Journal April 2023
on oxygen, the document describes optimum supply and distribution systems to mitigate the effects of high oxygen flows during pandemic conditions. While our experience indicates that this document has not been widely circulated, it outlines a method of investigation and evaluation of oxygen medical gas pipeline systems (MGPS). Additionally, the guidance within the document has been incorporated in Authorised Person (AP) courses and practical exercises enhanced to aid APs in carrying out the suggested tasks.
Oxygen issues during the COVID-19 pandemic This is an independent report by the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch. It says: “This investigation describes an emerging safety risk where there has been an increased demand for oxygen on hospital wards during the COVID-19 pandemic.” The report and its recommendations are more focused on the collective management of medical gas pipelines, as opposed to it being an ‘Estates function’. The report said: “Organisations that utilised a multidisciplinary approach to
New training facility at Eastwood Park With these developments in mind, the training at Eastwood Park has evolved to incorporate shifts in medical practices, with a new Training Centre recently competed and having become operational on the site. The facility has been comprehensively fitted out with a mixture of older and new plant to ensure that delegates on the Centre’s courses can gain experience on as wide a range of equipment as possible. Trends that are already affecting, and will in the future impact on, healthcare engineering practice, and the way a variety of equipment is installed, used, and maintained by such personnel, include developments in medical technology such as the use of robotics and semi- invasive surgery, shifts in management practice, the drive for carbon-neutral – including via a reduction in the use of Nitrous Oxide, and advances in medical gas pipeline systems. The Centre’s new medical gas system is a mix of old and new, with components from different manufacturers and suppliers to replicate current healthcare systems. The aim is for the learners to gain confidence and familiarisation with their systems. Within our new medical gas training facility, we have incorporated equipment from suppliers such as: n Beacon Medaes. n Precision UK. n MMPL. n P3. n Shire Controls, and n MEC Medical.
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