NHS issues urgent safety alert over common drug after 25 serious incidents and baby death

NHS OFFICIALS have issued a national safety alert after reported overdoses of a common drug used in labour and after childbirth.

Oxytocin is a hormone used to stimulate contractions during labour, and higher doses are administered to manage postpartum bleeding.

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But accidental administration of a postnatal dose of oxytocin during the birth of the baby can lead to “significant harm” to mother and baby, NHS officials said.

NHS officials say 25 oxytocin overdose incidents have been reported in the last five years.

Some include incidents in which oxytocin infusions and IV fluids were “confused”, leading to oxytocin “running through freely or at a significantly increased rate during labour”.

The patient safety alert describes one case in which a baby was sent to intensive care after an incident.

“A woman (received) a pre-prepared postpartum oxytocin infusion in place of IV fluids while in labour,” the alert states.

“The baby’s heart rate slowed, and the woman required an emergency caesarean section due to a placental abruption.

“The baby was born in poor condition and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for close monitoring.”

Other reports described include postpartum oxytocin accidentally given during labour or in theatre before a caesarean section.

Meanwhile, baby Harry Richford died during childbirth after his mum was given oxytocin during childbirth.

An inquest into his death determined he was put under stress due to excessive use of an anaesthetic form of oxytocin called syntonic, which led to brain damage.

The alert has been issued by NHS England’s national patient safety team and endorsed by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Anaesthetists.

It calls for maternity providers to stop pre-preparing oxytocin infusions at ward level, in all clinical areas, including delivery suites and theatres.

To minimise any potential risks of delayed treatment of excessive bleeding after birth, post-partum haemorrhage kits or trolleys should be made available in all clinical areas, the alert adds.

It comes after an inquest into the three babies’ deaths began at Southwark Coroner’s Court earlier this month.

A total of 19 babies were infected with bacteria after having baby feed pumped into their bloodstream – because they were unable to feed on their own – between May 27 and June 2, 2014.