Clinical Guidelines for the Safe Use of McKinley T34 Syringe Pump

Who will look after my syringe pump?If you are at home, your community nurse will come in each day to replace the syringe, checkthat the needle is comfortable and that there are no problems with the medicines.If you are staying in the hospital, hospice or care home the staff there will check your syringepump regularly to make sure it is working well. The syringe will be changed each day by thestaff. They will check that the needle is comfortable and that you are not having any problemswith the medicines.The medicines in your syringe pump have been prescribed by your doctor to help yoursymptoms; you do not need to do anything to the syringe pump. The medicines will continue tobe absorbed over 24 hours, helping your symptoms round the clock.What does a syringe pump look like?The syringe pump currently in use in Halton & St Helens Primary Care Trust is the McKinleyT34 syringe pump. The pump (actuator) pushes the medicine into the giving set, through theneedle and into the tissues under the skin where it is absorbed into your bloodstream. While thepump is running the indicator light will flash to let you know that it is working.The pump is lightweight and about 15cm long by 5cm tall. It may have a clear plastic cover toprotect it and may be in a fabric bag, to protect the syringe from light. Your nurse or doctor willbe able to show you the syringe pump.Some dos and don’tsThe medicines in the syringe pump will flow into your blood stream throughout the 24-hourperiod, controlling your symptoms. Any adjustments required will be made by your GP orCommunity Nurse or by the hospital or hospice staff. Do not interfere with the syringe or thepump.You must keep the syringe pump and the infusion site dry. Take care when washing or bathingto keep the syringe pump dry. If you drop it into water contact your nurse, a new syringe pumpwill be needed to be sure that your medicines are being given at the right rate.The syringe in the pump should not be exposed to direct sunlight– you should keep it in thefabric pouch to protect it from light.The syringe pump should not be exposed to extremes of heat. Avoid placing the syringe pumpnext to a heat pad, electric blanket or hot water bottle.Avoid the use of mobile phones within a metre of the pump if at all possible as they mayinterfere with the way the pump works. If a call is unavoidable, keep the length of the calls asshort as possible.If you notice any of the following contact your nurse/GP:Page 28 of 33