BCGA releases new guidance to address oxygen supply concerns

UK trade body the British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) has produced guidance on the correct process to select authorised, licensed medical gas cylinder supplies in support of a recall from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), over falsified medical oxygen.

Drawn up by the BCGA’s specialist subcommittee for medical gases, TSC7, the guidance is aimed at dentists, vets and First Aid Responders, in addition to other professionals who purchase single cylinders of medical oxygen.

Earlier this year, the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit started an investigation into the unlawful supply of medical oxygen to a large number of dental practices across the UK, leading to the organisation publishing a medical recall alert to raise awareness of the issues.

“The MHRA will continue to work in collaboration with the BCGA to address the threat posed by the unlawful supply of medical oxygen to protect patient safety,” said Mark Ling, Senior Criminal Enforcement Officer at MHRA.

“Medical oxygen should only be procured from licensed manufacturers and wholesale dealers,” adding that any defective or falsified medical devices can be reported on its Yellow Card Scheme website.

The new guidance, named Leaflet 22, ‘Medical Gases. Selecting A Medical Gas Cylinder Supplier’, provides details on the checks that should be carried out in selecting a medical gas cylinder to ensure it is legitimate, that it is for medical use and has been supplied by an authorised supplier.

“Medical gases are classified as medicines and can only be provided by bona fide companies, including those in BCGA membership, who have the appropriate licenses, which are issued by the UK Regulator, the MHRA,” explained Jake Lake, Technical Manager at BCGA.

Because the guidance is aimed more towards those who obtain single cylinders of medical gases, hospitals and Trusts are not an ‘area of direct concern’ as they get cylinders via contract arrangements with licensed gas suppliers.

Full details of the MHRA recall can be found here, while the new Leaflet 22 guidance can be found on the BCGA website.