Syringe pump / driver guidelines

These guidelines were first produced in 2011 by NHS Education for Scotland (NES) in consultation
with practitioners in hospital, hospice and community settings throughout Scotland. The current
review (2023) has been undertaken as part of the Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines review and
maintenance process. The guidelines apply to the use of syringe pumps for continuous subcutaneous
infusions in palliative and end of life care for ADULTS ONLY.

AIMS

• To support safe, effective, person centred care across NHS Scotland when using the portable
  syringe pump for people receiving palliative care or end of life care.
• To provide consistency in the training and education framework to support staff
  competency.

The syringe pump referred to throughout the main body of the document is the Becton Dickinson
(BD) Bodyguard T. Other syringe pumps are available for use throughout Scotland, namely, the T34
Version 2 and CME Version 3. A summary of the differences between the pump versions is outlined
in Appendix 1. Please check which syringe pump(s) are used in your local area by referring to local
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

Our thanks go to Becton Dickinson for their kind permission to use images of the Bodyguard T within
these guidelines. Further information by the manufacturer (Becton Dickinson) can be accessed here:
BD BodyGuard T - BD.

Local variations

These guidelines are intended to support best practice in a range of settings however we recognise
there may be differences in local systems, procedures and equipment. Boards will need to consider,
identify and manage any local variations from the national guideline. A table highlighting items for
consideration in a local Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) document or similar has been
provided: see Appendix 2

Acknowledgments

The original guidelines (2011) were adapted with permission from guidance produced by
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Highland. The work was led by Anne Watson (Assistant
Director of Pharmacy) and Val Findlay (National Co-ordinator, Pharmacy Support Staff Educational
Development). The 2018 update was led by Scott Sweaton, Senior Charge Nurse, Victoria Hospice,
NHS Fife.