A regional approach to the implementation of the NPSA gentamicin alert

A National Patient Safety Agency alert to promote the safe use of gentamicin in neonates was issued in February 2010. The mandate included the requirement for implementation where all neonatal patients are treated in England within one year of the alert being issued. Implementing the alert required significant changes in practice involving a number of disciplines and departments. This article describes how the East of England Perinatal Network adopted a region-wide, network approach to implementing the alert.