Who needs to take action?
This safety critical HSE National Patient Safety Alert (NPSA) is relevant to each HSE Integrated Health Area (IHA) now required to transition all enterally fed service users, who are currently using the Cardinal Health Kangaroo™ Joey Enteral Feeding Pump (distributed by Healthcare21 (HC21)) to the Nutricia Flocare Pump.
Action is required by senior health service leaders in every IHA to lead the transition to the Nutricia Flocare pump. The transition is urgently required without delay in the community and those acute hospitals that are currently using the Kangaroo™ Joey Enteral Feeding Pump. There will need to be coordination with dietetic services, PHNs, stores/appliance officers and others in the completion of this task.
What is the safety issue?
While there is no issue with the quality and performance of the Kangaroo™ Joey Enteral Feeding Pump and its consumables, there is a critical global supply disruption with limited stock available. In line with a HSE tender award, transition to the Nutricia Flocare Pump in the HSE has been agreed to be progressed.
How to take action?
Local implementation of this change is required by each service.
1. Actions for Community Services
Communication with impacted service users based in the community is required:
- A template letter for every service user affected and a list of affected service users for their area has been issued to each IHA Manager on 01.09.2026
- You must assign a named point of contact within your service for service users to raise concerns or seek clarification about the transition to the new pump
- The letter must be issued to the service user by registered post by 05.09.2026
2. Actions for Acute Hospitals
- All acute hospitals that are currently using Kangaroo™ Joey Enteral Feeding Pump must transition as a matter of urgency to the Nutricia Flocare Pump
- From the issuing of this HSE NPSA no new service user can be discharged from an acute hospital with an order for Kangaroo™ Joey Enteral Feeding Pump
- Contact your Nutricia Hospital Account Manager with associated queries, or alternatively phone 1800 923 404
3. Ordering new Nutricia stock to maintain supplies, local Procurement Leads must:
- Work with local teams/store management to manage stock
- Arrange for all affected service users to have an order form submitted to local stores so that the ongoing provision of the consumables required for their new Nutricia Flocare pump is in place (see attachment for new stock codes)
4. Communicate with and prepare all relevant staff
- Clearly communicate the implementation plan to relevant staff
- Ensure all relevant policies, procedures and training resources/material are updated with reference to the use of the Nutricia Flocare Pump and its consumables and are fully accessible. Consider training needs.
- Report any safety issues or incidents to NIMS and the HPRA
When does action need to be completed?
Implementation of these changes should be commenced immediately
- Actions 1, 2 and 4 must be completed within 4 weeks (30 September 2026)
- Action 3 must be completed within 1 week (9 September 2026)
Download the HSE NPSA Local Action Plan