Nasogastric Earlier NPSA advice referred to avoiding Unless there are tubes should placement ‘out-of-hours’. The rationale for this essential drugs only be placed was the greater risk of error by junior and less required then when senior experienced staff confirming nasogastric tube nasogastric tubes support for placement in evenings and at night. The should not be placement and rationale of not placing tubes except where inserted out of placement there is relevant senior and experienced support normal working confirmation is (nursing, medical and radiology) remains, but it hours. readily is recognised availability of senior staff will vary Parents are available between organisations and services and so advised to cannot be defined as simply as within or outside contact the OUH ‘normal hours if they are unsure. Health staff would only do this between No local or national clinical guidance should 8-8 when there allow would be senior nasogastric tubes to be placed at times when staff around and staff to go to the local cannot access relevant senior support for general hospital placement confirmation out of hours. Clinical Structured documentation reinforces training No local or national clinical guidance should policies, and protocols and helps staff carrying out amend this requirement. protocols and nasogastric tube placement checks to patient remember and follow the appropriate steps. documentation Structured documentation helps the rest of the (whether clinical team identify key safety information. paper or electronic patient records) are designed to help staff comply with Forms are these safety uploaded
Nasogastric tubes should only be placed when senior support for placement and placement confirmation is readily available Earlier NPSA advice referred to avoiding placement ‘out-of-hours’. The rationale for this was the greater risk of error by junior and less experienced staff confirming nasogastric tube placement in evenings and at night. The rationale of not placing tubes except where there is relevant senior and experienced support (nursing, medical and radiology) remains, but it is recognised availability of senior staff will vary between organisations and services and so cannot be defined as simply as within or outside ‘normal hours No local or national clinical guidance should allow nasogastric tubes to be placed at times when staff cannot access relevant senior support for placement confirmation Unless there are essential drugs required then nasogastric tubes should not be inserted out of normal working hours. Parents are advised to contact the OUH if they are unsure. Health staff would only do this between 8-8 when there would be senior staff around and to go to the local general hospital out of hours. Clinical policies, protocols and patient documentation (whether paper or electronic patient records) are designed to help staff comply with these safety Structured documentation reinforces training and protocols and helps staff carrying out nasogastric tube placement checks to remember and follow the appropriate steps. Structured documentation helps the rest of the clinical team identify key safety information. No local or national clinical guidance should amend this requirement. Forms are uploaded
78i_BOD_Board-Report-May-2017-Patient-Safety-Alert-NG-tube-feeding-2.docx