Who does WHO?

Published: 16 November 2012

An email group of senior imaging nurses has evolved over the years, which is used as an information exchange. One query which was emailed to the group was to ascertain which departments are completing a WHO safety checklist in radiology. On reading the responses in October 2012, I thought it would be interesting to attempt to quantify how many of us are complying with this. A partial informal audit was performed.

Of the 90 names on the email list, 11 were undeliverable, leaving 79 potential respondents. 11 responses have been received at the time of writing, all but one are using the WHO checklist to some extent. If you haven't replied, please do so now by emailing me at grace.johnston@nhs.net. I just need to know if you're using it and in which areas or for which types of procedures.

If you aren’t using the checklist and you are assisting with performing the following types of procedures as defined in the RCR document, please visit the links below for further information and to enable you to comply with recommended practice:

“Any procedure that requires a needle insertion into a patient has the potential for catastrophic consequences. Therefore, the NPSA has clearly identified that the checklist should apply to all patients undergoing invasive procedures (defined as a procedure which is dependent on penetration of the skin, other than placement of intravenous access) under general or local anaesthesia.”

ROYAL COLLEGE OF RADIOLOGISTS, 2010. Standards for the NPSA and RCR safety checklist for radiological interventions. RCR, London.  [Online] Available from:
http://www.rcr.ac.uk/docs/radiology/pdf/BFCR(10)17_NPSA.pdf [Accessed 31 October 2012].

NATIONAL PATIENT SAFETY AGENCY, 2010. WHO Surgical Safety Checklist: for radiological interventions only. NPSA [Online]. Available from: http://www.nrls.npsa.nhs.uk/resources/?EntryId45=73612 [Accessed 31 October 2012].