Hospital

Information for Patients

If you are allergic to natural rubber latex, the key to a comfortable stay in Hospital is preparation. There is so much equipment in hospitals which contains latex that the hospital may need time to obtain latex-free alternatives to create a safe enviroment for you. 

If you have appointment to visit or be admitted to hospital, then a telephone call to the department in advance of the appointment to inform them of your allergy should enable them to prepare for your visit and reduce your risk


Information for Healthcare Professionals

The Medical Devices Agency (MDA), the body charged with ensuring that medical devices and equipment for use in the UK meets acceptable standards of satefy, quality and effectiveness, has issued a bulletin to alert hospitals to the dangers of NRL. Entitled "Latex Sensitisation in the Health Care Setting" (DB 9601). The bulletin was sent to all NHS Trusts stressing the importance for healthcare establishments of formulating local policies that safeguard patients and ensure that specific information about latex sensitivity is widely promoted within the establishment. A further Safety Notice was issued by the MDA in June 1998 re-iterating the bulletin's advice.

Please refer to the resources to the right, and to the Useful References page for further guidance.