Syringe Pump

Patient Information Leaflet

What is a syringe pump?

A syringe pump is a small portable battery-controlled pump. It is fitted with a syringe that contains medications that are delivered at a regular rate over 24 hours.

Why do I need one?

It is often used when other ways of taking medicines are unsuitable. You may be vomiting, feeling sick, having difficulty swallowing, or your body cannot absorb the medicines properly.

Who will look after my syringe pump?

If you are at home, in hospital, or in a hospice or care home, a nurse will check that your syringe pump is working, that the needle is comfortable, and that there are no problems with the medicine. They will change the syringe each day. Once the pump is no longer needed, the nurse will remove it.

What to look out for?

If your symptoms become worse or change in any way once the syringe pump has been set up, tell the nurse looking after it.

If you notice any changes to your skin, or redness or discomfort where the tube goes in, again, tell the nurse who is looking after the syringe pump.

If you notice any cloudiness or sediment, or that the colour changes in the tubing or syringe, please contact your nurse.

How will I know that the syringe pump is working?

If the syringe pump is working, a green light will flash twice a minute. If the pump stops for any reason, this light will turn red and a bleeping noise can be heard. If this happens, please contact the nurse as soon as possible. If you are at home, you should contact the district nurses. They will have provided you with their contact numbers for both in and out of hours, including weekends. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Taking care of your syringe pump

• Please do not get the syringe pump wet.
• Please keep the skin around the tube dry.
• When in bed or in a chair, the pump should be placed lower than the needle site.
• Take care when washing and dressing – if the tube is pulled or comes out, please contact the nurse.
• Please keep the syringe pump out of direct sunlight and do not allow it to become too hot.

Storing medicines for your syringe pump at home

Store the medicines in their original packaging and keep them at room temperature.

Make sure they are kept in a safe place and out of reach and sight of children and vulnerable people.

When they are no longer needed or out of date, they can be taken to your chemist for safe disposal.

References

West Midlands Palliative Care Physicians. Palliative Care Guidelines for the use of drugs in symptom control (2020)

With permission from

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust Syringe Driver leaflet.

If you have any questions, or if there is anything you do not understand, please contact the Russells Hall Hospital switchboard number on 01384 456111 and ask for the relevant department who issued this leaflet.

If you have any feedback on this patient information leaflet please email dgft.patient.information@nhs.net

This leaflet can be made available in large print, audio version and in other languages, please call 0800 073 0510.

Originator: Louise Westbury. Date originated: November 2020. Review date: 01 December 2026. Version: 1. DGH ref: DGH/PIL/02130.