National Patient Safety Alert

Risk of oxytocin overdose during labour and childbirth.

Published: 25 September 2024

NHS England has issued a National Patient Safety Alert on the risk of oxytocin overdose during labour and childbirth. This instructs all relevant NHS funded maternity care providers to cease pre-preparing oxytocin infusions at ward level in all clinical areas.

The National Patient Safety Alert contains further information and actions for providers.