Safer ambulatory syringe drivers: experiences of one acute hospital trust

In December 2010 the National Patient Safety Agency released a Rapid Response Report citing evidence of harm and death necessitating the need to immediately address safety issues affecting ambulatory syringe drivers with rate settings in millimetres of travel. These devices are widely used in palliative care in the UK, both in the community and in the hospital setting. In order to ensure a successful changeover to a safer system, a coordinated, multidisciplinary, cross-boundary approach is essential. This article outlines the experiences of one acute hospital trust in identifying and trialling ambulatory syringe drivers to potentially adopt, and in implementing the selected driver and training staff in its use. It is hoped that it will provide insight into the challenges of undertaking such a change in practice.