Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 8
8
The OPSS’s lack of data has slowed its response to some serious areas of harm,...
Conclusion
The OPSS’s lack of data has slowed its response to some serious areas of harm, such as small, high-powered magnets that led to 40 paediatric admissions in the UK in 2020 alone. Issues with these magnets have been reported for a number of years, but the OPSS did not initiate a response until 2021.11 It explained to us that it was first alerted to the issue by NHS paediatricians who had observed an increase in the number of operations to treat internal damage to children’s bowels. The OPSS is working to improve its intelligence base. For example, it is undertaking a pilot with five NHS hospitals to gather data on product-related injuries directly at the point of A&E. The OPSS noted the challenges in delivering this initiative, including building a consistent reporting mechanism which specifies important details on the causes of harm.12 The OPSS is also developing an overall data strategy, which the National Audit Office assessed as being a good start but less mature than in other parts of government.13 Influencing businesses and consumers
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2022 1.2 The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) agrees to write to the Committee within six months of the PAC report to detail the progress made on OPSS’s data strategy. 1.3 OPSS is currently developing a data strategy, including improving its intelligence sources and identifying data gaps. It has four main objectives: • shaping OPSS’ organisational activity and approach using the power of data; • ensuring effective use and control of data OPSS owns and shares with others; • using data and outputs to drive behavioural change in consumers, businesses and the public; • targeting OPSS’ regulatory activity towards the greatest risks using data and analysis. 1.4 The data-sharing pilot with the NHS should be completed by Spring 2022 following which the results will be evaluated to understand the benefits, insights and challenges involved. OPSS will include an update on this work when it reports back to the Committee. 1.5 OPSS will also continue to develop and utilise its internal data sources, including the Product Safety Database which records hazardous and non-compliant products identified by UK market surveillance authorities and can be used to identify trends and areas of specific risk. For example, OPSS’ intelligence unit is currently trialling new software that will facilitate the collection of corroborated intelligence, adding an additional layer of value to OPSS’ intelligence products, thereby enhancing operational decision making. OPSS’s risk unit is also developing new risk assessment methodologies to ensure that OPSS’ regulatory activities are targeted towards the highest risks.