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Safety alert on ingestion of polymer gel granules

NHS Improvement has published a National Patient Safety Alert highlighting the risk of death and severe harm from ingestion of superabsorbent polymer gel granules.

Superabsorbent polymer gel granules which are available in the form of sachets, mats or loose powder are typically used to control spillage of fluids onto bedding, clothing and floors when patients use urine bottles or vomit bowls or when the hospital staff move fluid-filled containers.

NHS Improvement had initially issued a Patient Safety Alert in November 2017 regarding the risk for asphyxiation associated with the use of these gel granules following the death of a patient who ingested a sachet of gel granules left in a urine bottle. Since then, an additional 12 incidents of ingestion by patients have been reported, including two deaths and two cases requiring emergency treatment.

As a result of these incidents and new guidance recommending the use of polymer gels only for exceptional infection control purposes, any organisation which is still using these products needs to ensure patient protection by implementing strict restrictions on their use.


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