Guidelines for use of the MS26 daily rate syringe driver in the community

Many patients cared for in the community have complex care and treatment needs and syringe drivers are commonly used to administer a range of drugs to patients at home. However, serious problems have been associated with this route of administration. In Scotland between 1989 and 1994 there were 23 incidents including 4 fatalities associated with the use of small volume syringe pumps reported to the Common Services Agency supplies division (Scottish Office Home and Health Department (SOHHD), 1995). The four fatalities were attributed to over-infusion (SOHHD, 1995). In those fatal inadvertent incidents no fault was found with the infusion device, suggesting that an inadvertent error had been made by attendants in setting up or in using the device, or that some form of tampering had taken place. The Department of Health issued a hazard warning in 1994 (DoH, 1994) about confusion between the two Sims Graseby syringe drivers the MS16A and the MS26. This article outlines guidance on the use of the Sims Graseby MS26 in the community. Community nurses have a vital role to play in management of syringe drivers, and it is through increased awareness of correct procedures that incidents and fatalities will be avoided.