Wrong site surgery can occur in any medical procedure. The following is a non exhaustive list of potential uses for the patient safety band.

• Avoiding wrong site surgery. The band is used in the standard way to avoid wrong site and wrong sided surgery (see the products page for an explanation).
• Accident & Emergency: High turn over of medical staff shifts means that the doctor that makes the diagnosis is not always the doctor that performs the procedure. In this setting the doctor that makes a diagnosis of pnuemothorax for example could place a safety band on the patient when this decision is made, the band contains both the procedure and states 'operate on this side'. The second doctor who performs the procedure will need to confirm the procedure and side with the patient before signing the band and placing the chest drain.
• Orthopaedics: The band can be placed on the patient by the SHO at admission. This could be elective or at the time of diagnosis for patients such as fractured neck of femur. In the case of fractured neck of femure for example this could be placed on the patients ankle. The surgeon performing the trauma list can then sign the band to confirm the procedure and side with the patient, x-rays and notes
• Radiology: At the time of the decision to perform an interventional radiological procedure a safety band could be placed on the patient. For example an 'operate on this side' band placed on the left side for a left nephrostomy. The radiologist can then confirm the site and nature of the procedure in the radiology suite with the patient and the request card, this will minimise wrong procedures and un-necessary radiation exposure.

A Clinical Governance Proposal can be download from here.