Written Question · S5W-32278 · Session 5
What information it has regarding how many PPE products have been withdrawn from use since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak due to safety…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many PPE products have been withdrawn from use since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak due to safety issues after they had been used by NHS staff, broken down by the (a) type of product and (b) specific safety issue.
The answer
Since the beginning of March 2020, National Services Scotland National Procurement has issued six alerts to Health Boards requiring PPE to be withdrawn from use. In one case, additional testing proved the product fit for use, in the other five cases, products were permanently withdrawn.
Details are as follows:
1. An alert was issued in March 2020 for FFP3 respirator masks from Cardinal/Medline that had failed revalidation testing. 23,500 of these had been shipped to Health Boards, who were instructed to dispose of the masks locally.
2. An alert was issued in May 2020 for Goggles from Tiger Eye that had failed splash testing required for Covid-19 response. These masks had been in use for years, but were no longer suitable for the current situation. Health Boards disposed of these items locally.
3. An alert was issued in June 2020 for type IIR masks from Cardinal Health that were found to be at risk of mask deterioration. 6 million of these masks had been shipped to Health Boards, who were instructed to dispose of masks locally.
4. An alert was issued in August 2020 for type IIR masks from Continuum and were withdrawn from use. However, further testing showed that they were fit for use and the quarantine on these masks was lifted, allowing them to be placed back into circulation.
5. An alert was issued in September 2020 regarding one batch of testing swabs from Supply Chain Coordination Ltd due to reports of swabs unravelling and leaving a small piece of the swab in patients’ nasal passages. Health Boards are disposing of these items locally.
6. A recall was issued in October 2020 for FFP3 respirator masks from Alpha Solway that were found to have the wrong wire used in the nose clip. 87,000 masks have been recalled, but fewer than 10% of these are estimated to be faulty. Masks are being recalled to the vendor.
Details are as follows:
1. An alert was issued in March 2020 for FFP3 respirator masks from Cardinal/Medline that had failed revalidation testing. 23,500 of these had been shipped to Health Boards, who were instructed to dispose of the masks locally.
2. An alert was issued in May 2020 for Goggles from Tiger Eye that had failed splash testing required for Covid-19 response. These masks had been in use for years, but were no longer suitable for the current situation. Health Boards disposed of these items locally.
3. An alert was issued in June 2020 for type IIR masks from Cardinal Health that were found to be at risk of mask deterioration. 6 million of these masks had been shipped to Health Boards, who were instructed to dispose of masks locally.
4. An alert was issued in August 2020 for type IIR masks from Continuum and were withdrawn from use. However, further testing showed that they were fit for use and the quarantine on these masks was lifted, allowing them to be placed back into circulation.
5. An alert was issued in September 2020 regarding one batch of testing swabs from Supply Chain Coordination Ltd due to reports of swabs unravelling and leaving a small piece of the swab in patients’ nasal passages. Health Boards are disposing of these items locally.
6. A recall was issued in October 2020 for FFP3 respirator masks from Alpha Solway that were found to have the wrong wire used in the nose clip. 87,000 masks have been recalled, but fewer than 10% of these are estimated to be faulty. Masks are being recalled to the vendor.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S5W-32278 by reference.