NSW Health's Safety Alert Broadcast System (SABS) has been adapted from the UK's National Health Service Safety Alert Broadcast System. Its aim is to provide a systematic approach to the distribution and management of patient safety information to NSW health services. Each alert specifies action to be taken by health services, the timeframe in which such action must occur, and specific responsibility for the actions.

The Safety Alert Broadcast System Policy Directive PD2013_009 describes how SABS works. Basically, there are three types of notification:

Safety Alert Red Safety Alert (Red), requiring immediate attention and action.
Safety Notice Amber Safety Notice (Amber), requiring risk assessment at the local level.
Safety Information Green   Safety Information (Green), ensuring that lessons learned from state-wide, national and international sources are shared actively across the NSW health system.

The SABS register

Number Type Issues co​​vered Date of issue
SA:001/20​​ ​Safety Alert Red ​LIFEPAK® 15 Monitor/Defibrillator defect correction - 2020​​ ​14 January 2020
​​SI:001/20 ​Safety Information Green ​Use of linen in radiological procedures potential artefact ​13 January 2020
​​SN:014/19​​ Safety Notice (Amber) ​​Ranitidine – Product Recall ​​4 October 2019​
​SN:013/19 ​Safety Notice (Amber) ​​Incompatibility between oxygen cylinders with inbuilt regulators with Air/Oxygen Blenders ​26 September 2019​
​SN:012/19 ​Safety Notice Amber ​Link adrenaline (epinephrine) 1 in 10,000 prefilled syringe - device failure​​ ​23 August 2019
​SN:011/19 ​Safety Notice (Amber) ​Benzylpenicillin injection – disruption to supply​ ​14 August 2019
​SN:010/19 ​Safety Notice Amber ​​Heparin sodium injection 5000 units/0.2mL - disruption to supply ​5 August 2019
​​SN:007/19 ​Safety Notice (Amber) High Concentration Insulin Products (Updated)​​
(Supercedes SN:009/17) 		​24 June 2019
​SN:006/19 ​Safety Notice Amber ​Fentanyl 100 microg/2 mL injection – disruption to supply ​15 April 2019
​SN:005/19 ​Safety Notice Amber ​Lignocaine with adr​​enaline 1:200,000 injections – Disruption to supply and risk of patient harm​ ​​8 April 2019
​SN:004/19 ​Safety Notice Amber ​JJM Intraluminal Proximate Circular Stapler (ILS)​​ ​4 April 2019
SA:001/19​​ ​Safety Alert Red ​enFlow Fluid Warmers - Risk of Aluminium toxicity ​13 March 2019
​SN:002/19 ​Safety Notice Amber ​Morphine sulfate 30mg/ml injection - disruption to supply
(Supercedes SN:007/18)		 ​15 February 2019
​SN:001/19 ​Safety Notice Amber ​Thiopental injection (Pentothal®) disruption to supply​ ​17 January 2019
​SN:021/18​ ​Safety Notice Amber ​ D​​​​​iscontinuation of nifedipine (twice daily products) and patient safety risks with alternative​​ ​20 December 2018
​SN:020/18 ​Safety Notice Amber ​Salem Sump Nasogastric Tube Shortage​​ ​14 December 2018
SN:019/18 Safety Notice Amber Oxygen Cylinders with Integrated Valve Regulator​ ​29 November 2018
​SN:018/18 Safety Notice Amber Newborn Self-Infl​​ating Bag (SIB) resuscitators ​27 November 2018
​SN:017/18 Safety Notice Amber ​Printing the correct ECG for patients
Correction to Para 2: QLD Health		 ​27 November 2018
​SN:016/18 Safety Notice Amber ​Abnormalities with Suboxone 2/0.5 mg film ​20 November 2018
​SN:015/18 Safety Notice Amber ​Parietex composite parastomal mesh hazard alert and recall​ ​9 November 2018
​SI:003/18 Safety Information Green ​ ​Candida auris infection considerations for the transfer or repatriation of an overseas patient to a NSW hospital​​ ​7 September 2018
SN:012/18 Safety Notice Amber Rupture of membranes testing in m​aternity settings 20 August 2018
SN:011/18 Safety Notice Amber New formulation: Phenytoin (Dilantin®) capsules 15 August 2018
SN:009/18 Safety Notice Amber Intragastric Balloon Systems 6 August 2018
SN:008/18 Safety Notice Amber Return of Patien​​ts’ Own Medications 25 July 2018
SI:001/18 Safety Information Green ABO Compatibility for Blood Products in an Emergency 19 June 2018
SN:005/18 Safety Notice Amber Peri-operative risk of SGLT2 inhibitor–associated ketoacidosis 15 Mar 18
SN:003/18 Safety Notice Amber Complications Associated with Inferior Vena Cava Filters 19 Feb 18
SA:001/08 Safety Alert Red Vaccine storage and cold chain management 9 Feb 18
SN:015/17 Safety Notice Amber Transvaginal mesh implants for Pelvic Organ (Vaginal) Prolapse
(Supersedes SN:010/17)
 20 Dec 17
SN:011/17 Safety Notice Amber Disposable Ventilator Catheter Mounts Failure 29 Sep 17
SI:002/17 Safety Information Green Gadolinium-based contrast agents for MRI scans 15 Aug 17
SA:004/17 Safety Alert Red HYDROmorphone (high-risk medicine): Changes to Dilaudid® injectable preparations 28 Jul 17
SA:003/17 Safety Alert Red Infection from contaminated ultrasound gel 12 May 17
SN:005/17 Safety Notice Amber Povidone-Iodine (PVI) Use in NSW Hospitals 19 Apr 17
SN:004/17 Safety Notice Amber Infection post cardiopulmonary bypass associated with heater-cooler devices
(Supersedes SN:007/16)		 3 Mar 17
SN:003/17 Safety Notice Amber Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) tablets - disruption to supply
(Supersedes SN:002/16) 		8 Feb 17
SN:002/17 Safety Notice Amber Identification of Post-Injection Syndrome Olanzapine Pamoate Long Acting Injection 8 Feb 17
SI:001/17 Safety Information Green Choking Risk in Mental Health Consumers 6 Feb 17
SN:001/17 Safety Notice Amber Vaccine cold chain management in NSW Facilities 2 Feb 17
SA:002/17 Safety Alert Red Insufflator Gas Connectors 12 Jan 17
SA:001/17 Safety Alert Red HYDROmorphone: High-risk medicine
(Supersedes SA:004/11 and SN:011/10)		 10 Jan 17
SN:013/16 Safety Notice Amber Implantable cardiac defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator devices 18 Nov 16
SN:011/16 Safety Notice Amber Povidone Iodine for pre-operative antisepsis – Disruption to supply 8 Nov 16
(revised 21 Nov 16)
SN:010/16 Safety Notice Amber Medical gas cylinders
(Supersedes Safety Notice 004/10 issued on 22 April 10)
10 Oct 16
SN:009/16 Safety Notice Amber Avoiding thrombophlebitis with intravenous amiodarone
(Supersedes Safety Notice 003/09 issued on 11 February 2009)

29 Sep 16
(revised 10 Feb 17)

SN:008/16 Safety Notice Amber Comfort impregnated cloth topical skin products: potential for bacterial contamination 20 Sep 16
SI:002/16 Safety Information Green Switching between Extended Release (XR) vs Immediate Release (IR) Formulations 25 Aug 16
SN:004/16 Safety Notice Amber Assessment and management of risk of absconding from declared mental health inpatient units 22 Jun 16
SN:003/16 Safety Notice Amber Use of Prone Restraint and Parenteral Medication in Healthcare Settings 14 Jul 16
SN:001/16 Safety Notice Amber Changes to Medicine Ingredient Names - April 2016 to April 2020 9 May 16
SA:001/16 Safety Alert Red Product Recall Catheters with Beacon Tip Technology 6 May 16
SI:001/16 Safety Information Green Increase in Cases of Invasive Meningococcal Disease 19 Feb 16
SI:001/15 Safety Information Green E – Cigarettes, Oxygen Therapy, Burns and Fire Risk 20 Jan 15
SI:003/14 Safety Information Green The Risk of Toxicity from Topical Anaesthetic Products 18 Sep 14
SN:004/14 Safety Notice Amber Removal of Central Venous Access Devices (CVAD) 12 Aug 14
SA:002/14 Safety Alert Red Potential bacterial contamination of propofol UPDATE: Quarantine of Provive and Sandoz propofol all sizes and batches lifted 2 May 14
15 Jul 14
SI:001/14 Green Safety Information Correct Usage of Fume/Vapour Soaking Stations 24 Jan 14
SN:001/14 Safety Notice Amber Use of Impregnated Chemical Disinfectant Wipe Systems for Reusable Medical Devices 24 Jan 14
SI:003/13 Safety Information Green 25l-NBOMe Potent hallucinogenic substance in NSW 4 Dec 13
(revised 19 Dec 13)
SN:003/13 Safety Notice Amber Voluven and Volulyte (hydroxyethyl starch) 5 Sep 13
SI:002/12 Safety Information Green Measles Outbreak 31 Aug 12
SI:001/12 Safety Information Green Antenatal magnesium sulphate infusion prior to preterm birth for neuroprotection of the foetus infant and child 4 May 12
SA:002/12 Safety Alert Red Product Recall - CSL Human Albumin - Batches Released from Quarantine (Albumex 4, Albumex 20) 15 Mar 12
SA:001/12 Safety Alert Red Product Recall CSL Human Albumin 08 Mar 12
SA:008/11 Safety Alert Red Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia (PJP) in transplant patients 19 Dec 11
SI:003/11 Safety Information Green Safe Storage of Accountable Medicines 29 Nov 11
SN:015/11 Safety Notice Amber Bathing of Newborn Babies and Infection Prevention 22 Nov 11
SN:013/11 Safety Notice Amber Management of medication for patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) 7 Nov 11
SI:001/11 Safety Information Green Safe Use of Alcohol Based Skin Preparations for Surgical and Anaesthetic Procedures
(Supersedes Safety Information SI: 001/07 issued on 27 June 2007)		 7 Oct 11
SN:017/10 Safety Notice Amber Group A Streptococcal Maternal Sepsis 24 Dec 10
SN:014/10 Safety Notice Amber Autonomic Dysreflexia
(Supersedes Safety Notice 014/10 issued on 26 October 2010)		 1 Nov 10
SN:010/10 Safety Notice Amber Correct identification of medication and solutions for epidural anaesthesia and analgesia 25 Aug 10
SN:006/10 Safety Notice Amber Pathology Testing - Caesarean Section Operations 16 Jun 10
SN:004/10 Safety Notice Amber Important Changes to Medical Gas Cylinders
(Superseded by Safety Notice 010/16 issued on 10 October 2016)
22 Apr 10
SA:002/10 Safety Alert Red RECALL of Breathing Systems with Intersurgical #1986 Connector 13 Jan 10
SA:001/10 Safety Alert Red RECALL of Unomedical - Endotracheal Tubes 8 Jan 10
SN:022/09 Safety Notice Amber Safe use of Midazolam 18 Dec 09
SA:006/09 Safety Alert Red Emergency/ Arrest Buttons 4 Nov 09
SA:005/09 Safety Alert Red Relenza (zanamivir) Inhalation Powder Safety Advisory 21 Oct 09
SN:019/09 Safety Notice Amber Managing Pigtail Drains Safely 8 Oct 09
SN:018/09 Safety Notice Amber Reducing Incidents Involving Tracheostomy Tube Care
To be read in conjunction with SN: 018/09
PD2006-098 - Tracheostomy - Unavoidable early (<72 hours) Tracheostomy Tube change		 16 Sep 09
SN:016/09 Safety Notice Amber Safe Instrumental Birth 28 Jul 09
SN:014/09 Safety Notice Amber Retained or Broken Orthopaedic Surgical Equipment in Patients 9 Jul 09
SA:003/09 Safety Alert Red Draeger Medical Babylog 8000 Plus Neonatal Ventilator 26 Jun 09
SA:002/09 Safety Alert Red Guidewire Alert 16 Jun 09
SI:003/09 Safety Information Green Varenicline (CHAMPIX)-Serious Psychiatric Side Effects 29 May 09
SN:011/09 Safety Notice Amber Allopurinol and Azathioprine 7 May 09
SN:009/09 Safety Notice Amber Acute Coronary Syndrome 28 Apr 09
SN:008/09 Safety Notice Amber Insertion of intraocular lens
Recommended intraocular lens insertion process
(To be read in conjunction with SN: 008/09)		 31 Mar 09
SN:007/09 Safety Notice Amber Nasogastric Feeding Tubes for Infants and Children
(Revised)		 27 Mar 09
SN:006/09 Safety Notice Amber Wrong Route Errors with Oral Medication 25 Mar 09
SA:001/09 Safety Alert Red PEEP Valve, Expiration Diverter Assembly 13 Feb 09
SN:003/09 Safety Notice Amber Intravenous Amiodarone
(superseded by Safety Notice: 009/16)		 11 Feb 09
SI:001/09 Safety Information Green Drager Oxylog 2000 Transport Ventilator 8 Jan 09
SN:012/08 Safety Notice Amber Autonomic Dysreflexia 16 Dec 08
SI:003/08 Safety Information Green Whooping Cough 3 Dec 08
SA:002/08 Safety Alert Red Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) Line - Arrow 3 FG Brand
(Suspension lifted 24 Dec 08)		 13 Oct 08
SA:002/08 Safety Alert Red Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) Lines
(Supersedes Safety Alert SA:001/08)		 13 Oct 08
SA:001/08 Safety Alert Red Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) Lines 10 Oct 08
SN:004/08 Safety Notice Amber Oxycodone (Revised)
Poster: Solid Oral Morphine and Oxycodone Products for Pain Relief		 16 May 08
SN:002/08 Safety Notice Amber Pulmonary Embolism: Diagnosis in Young People 29 Jan 08
SA:004/07 Safety Alert Red Electronic Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring
(Supersedes Safety Notice SN:008/07)		 4 Oct 07
SN:013/07 Safety Notice Amber Extravasation of IV fluids: Care of the cannula site in neonates and children 21 Sep 07
SA:003/07 Safety Alert Red Medtronic SynchroMed® EL Implantable Pump - Neurological drug delivery pumps 12 Sep 07
SI:001/07 Safety Information Green Alcohol-Based Hand Cleansers and Fire
(Has been superseded by Safety Information SI: 001/11)		 27 Jun 07
SN:008/07 Safety Notice Amber Electronic Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring
(Has been superseded by Safety Notice SA:004/07)		 8 May 07
SA:002/07 Safety Alert Red Communicaton Systems 9 May 07
SA:001/07 Safety Alert Red Fine Bore Nasogastric Feeding Tubes 3 May 07
SN:004/07 Safety Notice Amber Shower Curtain and Curtain Tracks in Mental Health Facilities 28 Mar 07
SN:003/07 Safety Notice Amber Creutzfeldt - Jacob Disease (CJD) Transmission During High Risk Surgical Procedures
(“dorsal route ganglia” amended to read "dorsal root ganglia" - updated 20 Mar 07)		 19 Mar 07
(revised 20 Mar 07)
SN:005/06 Safety Notice Amber Safe Use of Fentanyl Skin Patches
(Web address for Analgesic Skin Patches publication updated on 22 February 2007)		 23 Oct 06
(revised 22 Feb 07)
SN:003/06 Safety Notice Amber Peiron Stent fracture in renal arteries Oct 06
SN:002/06 Safety Notice Amber Cleaning of flexible endoscopes (reprocessing)
(Web address for Infection Control Policy updated on 26 February 2007)		 Sep 06
(revised 26 Feb 07)
SI:001/06 Safety Information Green Alaris SE pumps recall, Filshie Clip System, peanut allergies, Bisphosphonates medications
(Web address for NSW Health peanut allergy publication updated on 23 March 2007)		 8 Sep 06
(revised 23 Mar 07)
SA:002/06 Safety Alert Red superseded by 04/06
SA:003/06 Safety Alert Red Ultravist-370 4 Aug 06
SN:001/06 Safety Notice Amber Guidant Implantable Pacemakers 9 Feb 06
SA:001/06 Safety Alert Red Baxter Infusion Pumps 8 Feb 06
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Page Updated: Tuesday 14 January 2020
Contact page owner: Strategic Communications and Engagement