Specialist Palliative Care Team
Your syringe pump: is a BD Bodyguard T, which is a portable battery operated machine allowing small amounts of medication to be given over a 24 hour period.
Each day a nurse will reload the machine with a newly prepared syringe containing your prescribed medication.
The medication is infused subcutaneously, that is into the tissue just below the skin. To achieve this, a small needle is inserted beneath the skin in the chest, arm, tummy or thighs. The needle is then removed leaving a small plastic tube in place. The tube is then kept in place with a clear dressing.
The syringe pump is battery operated using a 9 volt battery. When the syringe pump is working:
When the syringe pump is working:
- A small green light above the on/off button on the machine flashes intermittently (every 25 seconds).
- Words will appear along the bottom of the screen that alternate between the make and size of the syringe and “<<<<<<<pump delivering”.
- The fluid in the syringe will slowly reduce.
What should I do if the alarm sounds?
If your syringe pump is due to be changed then wait for your district nurse to arrive to re load it. The syringe pump alarm will sound and/or a red light will appear if there is a problem or if the infusion has been completed. The reason for the alarm will be written on the screen.
Please note the pump will alarm three times every five minutes, for 45 minutes and before the pump is due to be reloaded and this cannot be silenced. The screen will state ‘near end’.
Please do not attempt to press the buttons or stop the pump.
Contacting the Single Point of Access team
If the pump is not due to be reloaded and the alarm sounds, please contact your district nurse via the Single Point of Access (SPA) team:
- Middlesbrough, Redcar, Cleveland (MRC) – Telephone: 01642 065070 (option 2)
- Hambleton and Richmondshire (H&R) –- Telephone: 01609 764407
Available Monday to Sunday 8am to 6pm.
Out of hours, please use the same number and your call will be triaged by the on call team.
Why do I need a syringe pump?
The main reason for using a syringe pump is to help control your symptoms when:
- You are persistently vomiting or feeling sick
- You are unable to swallow your medication
- The medication is more effective controlling your symptoms in injection form
- To avoid giving frequent injections.
Does the syringe pump restrict me?
Syringe pumps are usually placed in a lockable plastic case to keep them protected. You may also be given a small disposable bag in which to carry your syringe pump. The syringe pump is not waterproof, therefore try to keep the site dry and the machine out of water. Please seek advice from your nurse before bathing and showering.
This is very important as the pump will be permanently broken if it gets wet.
Important
It is also important to keep the syringe pump out of direct sunlight, either in a fabric bag or under a sheet or pillow in bed.
You can continue to eat and drink as normal although you should check with your doctor or nurse if you wish to drink alcohol.
Other information
Each syringe pump has a unique identifiable number that is recorded whenever a pump is allocated to a patient so that we know who has loaned the syringe pump. This is very important as they cost approximately £1000 each to replace.
Once the syringe pump is no longer needed, either the district nurse will collect it or you can return it for the attention of the district nurse to your GP practice.
Contact us
If you require further information please contact us on:
Telephone JCUH Switchboard: 01642 850850
Email: [email protected]
Patient experience
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust would like your feedback. If you wish to share your experience about your care and treatment or on behalf of a patient, please contact The Patient Experience Department who will advise you on how best to do this.
This service is based at The James Cook University Hospital but also covers the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, our community hospitals and community health services.
To ensure we meet your communication needs please inform the patient experience department of any special requirements, for example; braille or large print by emailing: [email protected]