MHRA and NPSA 

MHRA
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for the regulation of medicines and medical devices and equipment used in healthcare and the investigation of harmful incidents. The MHRA also looks after blood and blood products, working with UK blood services, healthcare providers, and other relevant organisations to improve blood quality and safety. The MHRA also provides a one-stop safety resource for anaesthetists. Find out more »

MHRA Anaesthetics - a one-stop resource for anaesthetists
The MHRA has a page specifically adapted to the needs of anaesthetists. It includes guidance, safety alerts and links to educational material to assist anaesthetists in the safe use and management of medicines and medical devices. Find out more »

NPSA
The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) is an Arm’s Length Body of the Department of Health. The NPSA currently has three divisions:

  1. National Reporting and Learning Service »
  2. National Clinical Assessment Service »
  3. National Research Ethics Service »

A review of Arm’s Length Bodies was published by the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley in July 2010. The Safety functions of the NPSA are to be retained and transferred to the new NHS National Commissioning Board. The National Clinical Assessment Service is to become self-funding over the next two to three years. Transfer of National Research and Ethics Service functions to single research regulator is to be explored.

The NPSA previously commissioned and monitored the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health. It was confirmed in July 2011 that the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) will take over the commissioning of the confidential enquiries, with the new service provider in place by April 2012. In the meantime, any maternal or perinatal death should be recorded on the Maternal and Perinatal Mortalities Notifications website. Read Anaesthesia editorial about Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths.

The NRLS manages the national safety reporting system. Rapid Response Alerts, Patient Safety Alerts and Safer Practice Notices are issued to encourage learning from safety incidents within the NHS. Find out more » 

The NPSA would like to reinforce the importance of anaesthetists continuing to report safety incidents to the NRLS during the interim period whilst the safety functions of the NPSA are transferred to the NHS Commissioning Board. Read more »