Better patient care through new Ultrasound-Guided IV Access Training Initiative
When patients need treatment in hospital, one of the first steps is often inserting an intravenous (IV) line. But for many people, especially children, older patients, cancer patients and those with difficult-to-find veins, this can mean multiple painful attempts before the right vein is found.
With the support of the local community, we’ve helped fund a new training initiative to help equip clinicians, nurses and midwives acquire the skills to obtain intravenous access in patients with difficult vascular access using ultrasound guidance.
Helping clinicians deliver faster, safer and less painful care
The new innovative ultrasound-guided IV access training programme equips doctors, nurses and midwives with the skills to locate deeper veins quickly and accurately using portable ultrasound technology.
The programme brings a specialist skill directly onto hospital wards, helping patients receive treatment sooner and with far fewer failed attempts.
Officially known as the Ultrasound-Guided Intravenous (MEDDLE US IV) Access initiative, the programme supports safer, more timely patient care by:
reducing delays in treatment
minimising repeated painful cannulation attempts
improving the experience of patients who are difficult to cannulate.
The training enhances workforce capability by providing clinicians, nurses and midwives with practical skills that can be applied across emergency, inpatient, perioperative, maternity, and critical care settings. To date:
10 courses have been delivered
125 medical professionals have been trained
82 doctors and 43 nurses and midwives are now equipped to obtain intravenous access in patients with difficult vascular access using ultrasound guidance.