Surgical safety checklist issued

A new safety checklist for theatre nurses and their teams was launched last week by the World Health Organization.

The checklist, which is being backed by the National Patient Safety Agency and junior health minister Lord Ara Darzi, was drawn up using evidence from eight pilot sites, including one at St Mary's Hospital in London.

Jane Reid, president of the Association for Perioperative Practice, welcomed the initiative. 'Our membership represents all those working in operating theatres and so we particularly welcome the emphasis on encouraging a culture of safety embracing the whole surgical team,' she said.

The checklist and information on it are available at www.who.int