The Australian Commission of Safety and Quality in Healthcare (ACSQHC) has released the National Standard for User-applied Labelling of Injectable Medicines, Fluids and Lines (the Labelling Standard) in September 2015.
The Labelling Standard expands on the Labelling Recommendations (OD 0385/12) to include:
- Labelling of containers in perioperative settings (including cardiac catheter and interventional radiology units)
- Colour-coded preprinted medicine labels for use on dedicated continuous infusion lines
- Liquid medicines for oral, enteral and inhalational use
- Labelling of non-injectable medicines and fluids prepared in the same area as injectable medicines.
WA modification to the label stippling of beige, blue and red labels addresses an identified safety issue with readability, and as such this modification remains a part of the WA Operational Directive
http://www.health.wa.gov.au/circularsnew/circular.cfm?Circ_ID=13282
Hospitals are required to comply with the Labelling Standard (including the WA modification identified in this Operational Directive) by March 31, 2016.