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With the mounting pressures in recent times on NHS to rapidly improve
its performance, the highlights on ‘NHS pressures mean that marking sites
before surgery is essential’ is a very timely one.
In the original excellent article by Giles et al(1), various factors
associated with ‘wrong site surgery’ is well depicted. In my opinion, the
most important factor for ‘wrong site surgery’ in NHS is the complexity of
the system and the hierarchy involved. I have always paid extra care and
attention in marking the appropriate site of surgery, albeit I have never
personally been involved in filling up a proforma or check list to confirm
the same. It is high time that a standard policy is implemented as
suggested by the document on Correct Site Surgery (CSS) by National
Patient Safety Agency (NPSA)(2). It should become a standard procedure to
fill up a ‘Preoperative marking verification check list’ as suggested by
NPSA or a similar form along with the consent form being routinely used at
present.
Even though it is understandable that various surgeons have their
personal preferences, it is imperative that this easily preventable
mistake is avoided by ironing out their differences and agreeing to a
nationally approved practice.
References:
1. Giles SJ, Rhodes P, Clements G, Cook GA, Hayton R, Maxwell MJ, et
al. Experience of wrong site surgery and surgical marking practices among
clinicians in the UK. Qual Saf Health Care 2006;15:363-8.
2. National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA). Patient Safety Alert 06: Correct
site surgery, 2 Mar 2005. http://www.npsa.nhs.uk/site/media/documents/
883_CSS%20PSA06%20FINAL.pdf.
Change of attitude required to improve surgical care
With the mounting pressures in recent times on NHS to rapidly improve
its performance, the highlights on ‘NHS pressures mean that marking sites
before surgery is essential’ is a very timely one.
In the original excellent article by Giles et al(1), various factors
associated with ‘wrong site surgery’ is well depicted. In my opinion, the
most important factor for ‘wrong site surgery’ in NHS is the complexity of
the system and the hierarchy involved. I have always paid extra care and
attention in marking the appropriate site of surgery, albeit I have never
personally been involved in filling up a proforma or check list to confirm
the same. It is high time that a standard policy is implemented as
suggested by the document on Correct Site Surgery (CSS) by National
Patient Safety Agency (NPSA)(2). It should become a standard procedure to
fill up a ‘Preoperative marking verification check list’ as suggested by
NPSA or a similar form along with the consent form being routinely used at
present.
Even though it is understandable that various surgeons have their
personal preferences, it is imperative that this easily preventable
mistake is avoided by ironing out their differences and agreeing to a
nationally approved practice.
References:
1. Giles SJ, Rhodes P, Clements G, Cook GA, Hayton R, Maxwell MJ, et
al. Experience of wrong site surgery and surgical marking practices among
clinicians in the UK. Qual Saf Health Care 2006;15:363-8.
2. National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA). Patient Safety Alert 06: Correct
site surgery, 2 Mar 2005. http://www.npsa.nhs.uk/site/media/documents/
883_CSS%20PSA06%20FINAL.pdf.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests