​​​​​​​​​​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 PD2024_016 describes how SABS works. Basically, there are three types of notification:

Safety Alert (Red), requiring immediate attention and action.

Safety Notice (Amber), requiring risk assessment at the local level.

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

NumberTypeIssues coveredDate of issue
​SN:030/24 Safety Notice (Amber) ​Disruption to supply of adrenaline (epinephrine) 1:10,000 (1 mg/10 mL)
pre-filled syringes and safety considerations
1 November 2024​
​SN:029/24Safety Notice (Amber)Updated: Assessment and care of early labour; opioid and
non-opioid analgesia.
​24 October 2024
​​SA:015/24
Safety Alert Red ​​Updated: Critical disruption to the supply of multiple intravenous fluid bags
​​17 October 2024
​SN:028/24
Safety Notice (Amber) Updated: ​Disruption to supply – Azithromycin (Zithromax) 200 mg/5 mL powder for oral suspension
15 October 2024
​SI:006/24
Safety Information Green
Safe management of lo​ok-alike, sound-alike medicines in NSW Health facilities
​14 October 2024
SN:027/24 Safety Notice (Amber) Updated: Disruption to supply – Gentamicin (Pfizer®) 80 mg/2 mL (as sulfate) injection BP ampoule10 October 2024
SN:026/24​
Safety Notice (Amber)
​​Updated: Disruption to supply: Heparin sodium (Pfizer®) 5,000 units/5 mL injection ampoule​​​
​2 October 2024
​SN:023/24 Safety Notice (Amber) Updated: Cases of dependence and overdose linked to nitazenes (strong opioids) in refillable vape liquids26 August 2024
SN:022/24 Safety Notice (Amber) Updated: Mpox is spreading across NSW8 August 2024
SN:018/24 Safety Notice (Amber) Risk of severe allergic reactions from products containing Andrographis paniculata5 July 2024
SN:017/24 Safety Notice (Amber) Prothrombin complex concentrate transition to Beriplex®: clinical considerations1 July 2024
SN:015/24 Safety Notice (Amber) Unexpected toxicity associated with Uncle Frog’s Mushroom Gummies26 June 2024
SI:005/24 Safety Information Green Avian Influenza risk summary21 June 2024
SN:012/24 Safety Notice (Amber) Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome20 June 2024
SI:004/24 Safety Information Green Updated: Minimising choking risk inmental health consumers13 June 2024
SN:011/24 Safety Notice (Amber) Risk of toxicity from ‘colic preparations’ containing belladonna7 June 2024
SA:009/24 Safety Alert Red Medicine recall: Phytomenadione (Konakion MM) 2 mg/0.2 mL injection4 June 2024
SN:009/24 Safety Notice (Amber) Nitazenes causing severe opioid overdoses in NSW30 May 2024
SN:007/24 Safety Notice (Amber) Updated: Changes to supply of morphine oral liquid in Australia21 May 2024
SI:003/24 Safety Information Green Counterfeit diazepam found in NSW16 May 2024
SN:006/24 Safety Notice (Amber) Updated: Supply disruption: Rapid Fetal Fibronectin (fFN) 10Q cassettes8 May 2024
SA:006/24 Safety Alert Red Clinician alert – Measles12 April 2024
SN:005/24 Safety Notice (Amber) Updated: Disruption to supply – Benzathine benzylpenicillin (Bicillin L-A) suspension for injection pre-filled syringe11 April 2024
SA:005/24 Safety Notice (Red) Clinician Alert – Rabies Risk for Timor-Leste28 March 2024
SN:002/24 Safety Notice (Amber) Use of Trilogy Evo, Trilogy Evo 02 and Trilogy EV300 devices while in CPAP and PSV mode 18 March 2024
SA:004/24 Safety Alert Red Updated: Critical disruption to supply – Intravenous (IV) paracetamol solution for injection/infusion1 March 2024
SA:003/24 Safety Alert Red Updated: Clinician Alert - Legionella pneumophilia23 February 2024
SI:001/24 Safety Information Green Fluid therapy and medicine dosing in adult patients who have a low body weight 06 February 2024
SN:044/23 Safety Notice (Amber) Updated: Safe use of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate in maternity services20 December 2023
SN:042/23 Safety Notice (Amber) Updated: Transvaginal mesh implants for Pelvic Organ (Vaginal) Prolapse18 December 2023
SN:041/23 Safety Notice (Amber) Updated: Possible contamination of multiple sodium chloride products – Quarantine and recall actions15 December 2023
SI:016/23 Safety Information Green Updated: Optimisation of elastomeric infusion devices14 December 2023
SI:014/23 Safety Information Green Updated: Potential increased risk of perinatal mortality associated with home fetal heart rate monitors (fetal dopplers) and baby movement Apps30 November 2023
SI:013/23 Safety Information Green Risk forecast for encephalitic flaviviruses (JEV, MVEV, KUNV) and JEV vaccination eligibility update29 November 2023
SN:035/23 Safety Notice (Amber) Updated - Provision of written leave information for consumers on leave from mental health inpatient units24 November 2023
SN:034/23 Safety Notice (Amber) Disruption to supply – Olanzapine long-acting injection (Zyprexa Relprevv)24 November 2023
SI:012/23 Safety Information Green Updated: Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM) during water immersion17 November 2023
SI:011/23 Safety Information Green Updated: Composition of counterfeit alprazolam in NSW3 November 2023
SN:030/23 Safety Notice (Amber) Updated: Set up of neonatal resuscitaires26 October 2023
SA:008/23 Safety Alert Red Updated: Clinician Alert - Invasive group A streptococcal disease15 September 2023
SA:007/23 Safety Alert Red Cardiosave Hybrid and Cardiosave Rescue Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumps (IABP)12 September 2023
SN:026/23 Safety Notice Amber Vigilance required: Increase in listeriosis cases in NSW8 September 2023
SN:025/23 Safety Notice Amber Updated - Medication management in patients with Parkinson Disease7 September 2023
SN:023/23 Safety Notice Amber Disruption to supply – Lidocaine (lignocaine) 1% (50 mg/5 mL) and 2% (100 mg/5 mL) solution for injection (Pfizer and Baxter)23 August 2023
SN:020/23 Safety Notice Amber Disruption to supply - Glucagon 1 mg (GlucaGen® Hypokit®)10 August 2023
SN:019/23 Safety Notice Amber Cosmetics potentially containing metal in Magnetic Resonance Imaging7 August 2023
SN:017/23 Safety Notice Amber Intravenous and subcutaneous Immunoglobulins (IVIg and SCIg): Potential for error: look-alike / sound-alike27 July 2023
SN:015/23 Safety Notice Amber Getinge Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump catheter insertion28 June 2023
SN:013/23 Safety Notice Amber Risk of burn injury from degraded insulated laparoscopic instruments25 May 2023
SI:008/23 Safety Information Green Updated: Reporting Adverse Events Following Immunisation23 May 2023
SN:012/23 Safety Notice Amber Disruption to supply: Potassium chloride (Pfizer) concentrate 10 mmol (750 mg) in 10 mL injection ampoule18 May 2023
SN:011/23 Safety Notice Amber Discontinuation of thiopental sodium (Pentothal®) 500 mg vial for injection 9 May 2023
SN:010/23 Safety Notice Amber Updated: Illicit cocaine containing high levels of lidocaine (lignocaine) 4 May 2023
SN:007/23 Safety Notice Amber Disruption to supply: Suxamethonium chloride (Juno) 100 mg/2 mL injection 4 April 2023
SN:006/23 Safety Notice Amber Updated: Use of Prone Restraint and Parenteral Medication in Healthcare Settings 30 March 2023
SI:006/23 Safety Information Green Intravenous iron preparations and potential for skin staining29 March 2023
SI:005/23 Safety Information Green Updated: Paediatric stationary oxygen concentrator set-up - Absence of low flow alarm for flow rates less than 2 litres per minute28 March 2023
​SN:004/23 Safety Notice (Amber) Clinician Alert – Foodborne Botulism22 February 2023
SI:003/23 Safety Information Green HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis in Emergency Departments and Sexual Health Services10 February 2023
SN:001/23 Safety Notice (Amber) Disruption to supply – multiple antibiotic oral liquids23 January 2023
SA:002/23 Safety Alert Red Updated: Defect alert: Computerised Ambulatory Delivery Device (CADD) Infusion pump disposables 12 January 2023
SI:013/22 Safety Information Green Increased incidence of invasive meningococcal disease19 December 2022
SI:012/22 Safety Information Green Updated: Philips Respironics CPAP and bi-level masks containing magnets16 December 2022
SN:024/22 Safety Notice (Amber) Philips 12-Lead chest lead-set defect5 December 2022
SN:023/22 Safety Notice (Amber) Newly registered Australian product: Risks associated with lorazepam 4 mg/1 mL solution for injection 1 December 2022
SN:021/22 Safety Notice (Amber) Breast implant associated-anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) - Updated11 November 2022
SI:010/22 Safety Information Green Essure contraceptive devices10 November 2022
SN:020/22 Safety Notice (Amber) Updated: New recommendations for anticancer drug dosing in kidney dysfunction – ADDIKD guideline4 November 2022
SN:016/22 Safety Notice (Amber) Adaptors for administration of bronchodilators using metered dose inhalers via endotracheal tubes7 October 2022
SI:008/22 Safety Information Green Change to in-use shelf-life of Prograf®(immediate-release tacrolimus) capsules6 October 2022
SN:011/22 Safety Notice (Amber) Strong opioids detected in counterfeit ‘Kalma’ tablets26 August 2022
SN:007/22 Safety Notice (Amber) Avoiding thrombophlebitis with intravenous amiodarone - Updated18 July 2022
SN:005/22 Safety Notice (Amber) Infection post cardiopulmonary bypass associated with heater cooler devices - Updated23 May 2022
SN:003/22 Safety Notice (Amber) Risk of retained intubating stylet fragment in neonates19 April 2022
SI:001/22 Safety Information Green Recognition and prompt treatment of clozapine-induced constipation7 February 2022
SI:009/21 Safety Information Green Recirculating air filtration device use in NSW hospitals26 November 2021
SI:004/21 Safety Information Green Povidone-Iodine Solution Use in NSW Hospitals19 August 2021
SN:016/21  Safety Notice (Amber) Identification and monitoring of Post-Injection Syndrome Olanzapine Pamoate Long Acting Injection (updated)9 August 2021
SI:007/21 Safety Information Green Safe use of medications with multiple concentrations in Electronic Medication Management (EMM) systems9 July 2021
SN:002/21 Safety Notice (Amber) Variability in oxygen delivery with bag valve masks15 February 2021
SI:001/21 Safety Information Green Minimising the risks of serious harm while switching antipsychotics20 January 2021
SN:001/21 Safety Notice (Amber) Discontinuation of nifedipine immediate release products (update)18 January 2021
SI:003/20 Safety Information Green The risk of toxicity from topical anaesthetic products22 May 2020
SN:001/20 Safety Notice (Amber) Safe provision of sedating medicines on discharge from NSW Health facilities18 February 2020
SN:013/19 Safety Notice (Amber) Incompatibility between oxygen cylinders with inbuilt regulators with Air/Oxygen Blenders26 September 2019
SI:003/18 Safety Information Green Candida auris infection considerations for the transfer or repatriation of an overseas patient to a NSW hospital7 September 2018
SN:008/18 Safety Notice Amber Return of Patients’ Own Medications​​
25 July 2018
SI:001/15 Safety Information Green E – Cigarettes, Oxygen Therapy, Burns and Fire Risk 20 January 2015
SI:001/14 Green Safety Information Correct Usage of Fume/Vapour Soaking Stations 24 January 2014
SN:001/14 Safety Notice Amber Use of Impregnated Chemical Disinfectant Wipe Systems for Reusable Medical Devices 24 January 2014
SN:022/09 Safety Notice Amber Safe use of Midazolam 18 December 2009

Current as at: Friday 1 November 2024