Three articles that featured in HEJ’s April and November 2013, and April 2014 issues, focused, respectively, on the roles and responsibilities of those operating and managing medical gas pipeline systems, the MGPS Permit to Work System, and how to raise and complete the MGPS Permit to Work.
In this fourth and final part of this ‘series’ of medical-gas system-related guidance articles by the same author, experienced medical gas systems trainer, Geoff Dillow, explains how to prepare, implement, monitor, and review, the MGPS Operational Policy.
HTM 02-01, and its predecessor, HTM 2022, place much emphasis on the importance of preparing and using an MGPS Operational Policy detailing both the scope of staff responsibilities, and information used to manage the MGPS day-to-day and during emergency situations. Frequently, the Authorised Person (MGPS) is delegated the task of preparing the Policy, and implementing, monitoring, and reviewing, it regularly.
However, it is an important, but sadly often unappreciated, fact, that the document is not solely for the use of estates personnel. Indeed, its preparation must not be seen purely as a task for ‘Estates’. A full consultation process with clinical, nursing, pharmacy, and portering staff as a minimum is essential if the document is to succeed as an MGPS management tool. Chapter 5 and Appendix A of Part B of HTM 02-01 provide guidance on how to prepare an MGPS Operational Policy, while Appendix B of the same document is a pro forma that can be used as a basis for preparing your own Policy.
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