PFD report

Dorothy Gamby · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 8 May 2025•Inner North London

Report record

Published report and response evidence

This page connects the concerns raised in this report with statements found in recipients’ published responses. A link shows a clear evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

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Concerns
1

Raised in this report

Recipients
1

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 1 recipient

Stated actions
2

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Source document

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised1

  1. Lack of warnings about risks from standing on or trapping wide and clawed ferrules on folding or collapsible walking sticks
Responses linked to these concerns

Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

Actions described in response An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.2

  1. Action

    Work with MHRA to alert walking-stick supply stakeholders about the incident and request review of their risk assessments.

    Stated by Office for Product Safety and StandardsStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 20 May 2025.
  2. Action

    Remind businesses to provide appropriate warnings with medical devices and products designed for attachment to them.

    Stated by Office for Product Safety and StandardsStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 20 May 2025.

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.1

  1. Position

    Regulation of walking sticks supplied for medical purposes falls under the MHRA rather than OPSS.

    Stated by Office for Product Safety and StandardsRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Lack of warnings about risks from standing on or trapping wide and clawed ferrules on folding or collapsible walking sticks

Wider context from the report

“Wide and clawed ferrules for walking sticks are widely available. They are described as providing stability, support, improved safety, ease of movement, etc. I am concerned that there is no warning that they may pose a risk if stood on or trapped when used on folding/collapsible walking sticks. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Work with MHRA to alert walking-stick supply stakeholders about the incident and request review of their risk assessments.

Verbatim wording from the response

“I have asked my team to work with the MHRA to ensure stakeholders involved in the supply and provision of walking sticks are made aware of this incident and requested to review their risk assessment through contact with British Healthcare Trades Association. Businesses will be reminded to ensure appropriate warnings to mitigate risks are being provided to consumers alongside medical devices, and any products designed to be attached to them.”

Source location

Response from Office for Product Safety and Standards
Page 2 · response
Published 20 May 2025

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Remind businesses to provide appropriate warnings with medical devices and products designed for attachment to them.

Verbatim wording from the response

“I have asked my team to work with the MHRA to ensure stakeholders involved in the supply and provision of walking sticks are made aware of this incident and requested to review their risk assessment through contact with British Healthcare Trades Association. Businesses will be reminded to ensure appropriate warnings to mitigate risks are being provided to consumers alongside medical devices, and any products designed to be attached to them.”

Source location

Response from Office for Product Safety and Standards
Page 2 · response
Published 20 May 2025

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Regulation of walking sticks supplied for medical purposes falls under the MHRA rather than OPSS.

Verbatim wording from the response

“OPSS is the UK’s product regulator, responsible for the regulation of most consumer products. The regulation of medical devices, which include walking sticks supplied for a medical purpose, is led by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).”

Source location

Response from Office for Product Safety and Standards
Page 1 · response
Published 20 May 2025

Open published response
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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026