We removed 'short' catheters from all areas in the Trust except for the urology ward who were deemed less likely to make the mistake concerned. Not even sure if they still use 'short' catheters there anymore.
Not had any incidence of women feeling violated by 'long' catheters or being particularly inconvenienced by the excess catheter length.
Obviously, once we go to having separate 'long' and 'short' wards, provided we have also got separate 'long' and 'short' stock rooms we won't have to worry about this problem! (at least on the wards)
Simon
-----Original Message-----
From: Accident and Emergency Academic List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Matt Heywood
Sent: 16 August 2010 18:02
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Male vs female catheters
We've had an incident where a short female Foley catheter was inserted
into a male urethra. The NPSA alert in April 2009 suggested both notices
in the storage area and big, obvious stickers on each catheter packet.
We had done these and still it happened.
I want to remove our future risk by no longer stocking female catheters
in the department. OK so ladies will have more tube sticking out but for
most purposes I don't see this as an issue.
My question is aside from convenience is does anyone know any
evidence-based reason to use short catheters in women? Neither the NICE
infection control guidance nor the RCN catheter guidance mentioned in
the NPSA document mention any. I don't think that "convenience" is a
good enough reason to continue to carry the risk of another man being
damaged.
Thanks
Matt Heywood
Consultant, EM
Macclesfield
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