Monitoring systems supplier, Isatec, is warning NHS organisations that some may have only a few weeks to improve their strategies for monitoring vaccine storage temperatures, in order to comply with National Patient Safety Agency advice. It is offering support to those that may be daunted by the recommended switch to electronic monitoring.
A recent report by the National Patient Safety Agency (NSPA/2010/RRR008) highlighted the need to store vaccines at the correct temperatures and the dangers of not doing so. Not only is incorrect storage of vaccines wasteful and costly but it can also lead to reduced vaccine effectiveness or even vaccine failures, representing a threat to patient safety.
NPSA has issued a call for action by all NHS organisations that hold vaccines in cold storage, to be completed by July 21, 2010. Among the actions outlined is the need for temperatures in refrigerators to be monitored and recorded at least once per working day and documented on a chart.
Frank Daugherty, from Isatec, commented: "Frequent or continuous monitoring and charting of temperatures is time consuming; more importantly, it is prone to human error and forgetfulness. So, in its supporting information, the report outlines the strategy of using electronic monitoring with feedback of storage temperatures."
