Magnesium sulfate injection is used in critical or emergency situations such as when treating eclamptic seizures in pregnant women.
The preparations that are generally used for the injections have to be diluted and this can be difficult to do accurately in a high-pressure situation.
We have worked with the procurement team to find products that don’t need to be diluted and make these easily available to Trusts.
We have also developed a bulletin that explains the problem and what organisations should do to make sure the process of preparing a Magnesium Sulfate Injection is as simple as possible. This bulletin was refreshed and endorsed by the NHS Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance Committee in September 2016.
The work was shortlisted for an HSJ Patient Safety Award in 2017 and is being rolled out through NHS South Region.
Our video shows Kim Allsop, Labour Ward Manager at Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton talking about making the change from 50% to 20% magnesium Sulfate.
Magnesium Sulfate from Wessex AHSN Limited on Vimeo.