Symptoms often occur within minutes of exposure to the drug, but sometimes can occur after severalhours. They can include:
• Generalised flushing of the skin
• Nettle rash (hives) anywhere on the body
• Swelling of the throat and mouth
• Difficulty in swallowing or speaking
• Alterations in heart rate
• Severe asthma or shortness of breath
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sudden weakness or floppiness
Any of these symptoms are signs of a serious reactionDial 999 immediately
What will happen at the end of my treatment?
A nurse will remove the cannula when your course of IV therapy is finished. A dry sterile dressing will be applied, which you can remove after 24 hours.
A letter will be sent to your GP to say that your course of IV therapy has finished.
CONTACT DETAILS FOR THE COMMUNITY NURSES:
Monday to Sunday7am to 7pm
Night Nurses Mon-Fri 7pm-7am
If you want to complain or raise concerns about the service, you receive
If you have any concerns about the service the Community Nursing Team provide, contact our Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS) on free phone 0800 953 0363.The purpose of PALS is to respond to your concerns and ensure that any lessons learnt, or indeed examples of good practice, are shared throughout the organisation If PALS are unable to resolve your concerns, and you wish to make a formal complaint, they will be able to signpost you to the formal complaints process.
Other sources of health advice:
111 is a telephone service which is available 24 hours a day every day of the year and is intended for ‘urgent but not life threatening’ health issues.
Sharing information:
Hounslow & Richmond Community Healthcare (HRCH) will need to record relevant details for audit and monitoring purposes. Under the Data Protection Act, they have a legal duty to keep all patient information confidential. Under the Act, the information may be divulged only under strict, controlled circumstances and must be held securely. The organisation has a confidentiality procedure and policy, which ensures that any patient information held is fully protected.
09/04/14
Please read this information
Please read this information carefully and keep it in a safe place
What is Intravenous (IV) Therapy?
IV Therapy is the term used when medication is given to you directly into a vein.
How will the medicationbe given?
In order for us to give you medication, fluids or blood into a vein, it is necessary for you to have a small hollow plastic tube inserted into your hand/arm by the Community Nurse. This plastic tube is called a CANNULA.
The cannula allows us to give you medicines directly into your bloodstream, without needing to give you a separate injection each time.
I thought that you had to be in hospital to have IV medications?
Admission to hospital to give intravenous medications is not always necessary. Most people would prefer the option to stay at home and this is possible with the support of the Community Nurses.
Who will give my IV medicationsand care for my cannula?
A Community Nurse will come to your home to care for your cannula, observe your condition and give your IV medications as prescribed.
Will I need to see a doctor?
A letter will be sent to your GP when you start IV therapy. If you need to see a doctor during your treatment the nurse will arrange this.
Are there any risks to receiving IV therapy at home?
As with any invasive procedure, there is a small risk of infection or bruising at the cannula insertion site.
If the needle becomes dislodged, the medication may flow into tissues around the cannula site rather than into the vein, resulting in swelling. If this occurs the Community Nurse will remove the cannula and treat the area immediately.
Some medicines may cause side effects such as stomach upset, diarrhoea, vomiting and skin reactions. Anaphylaxis although rare is a severe allergic reaction to a substance which your body perceives as a threat. Severe reactions to IV medications happen to about 1 person in every 15,000 per year.
If you have any side effects or reactions to your medicine, please tell your Community Nurse.
How can I help to care for my cannula?
You can help to prevent infection in the following ways:
• Avoid touching the cannula and the dressing, this will reduce the likelihood of irritation caused by the cannula rubbing in the vein
• Report any redness, pain or swelling to the Community Nurse immediately
• Try to keep the cannula clean and dry. Cover when washing/showering with a glove or cling film
•Avoid heavy lifting and excessive movement.
What do I do if my cannula becomes dislodged and starts bleeding?
As the cannula is sitting in a vein there is a risk of bleeding if it becomes accidentally dislodged. There is no need to panic if this happens. Apply pressure to the area.
Usually any bleeding will stop within a few minutes. If the bleeding does not stop then keep applying pressure to the area and raise it above your head.
If you are worried, concerned or unable to stop the bleeding after ten minutes, contact your Community Nurse immediately.
What if my cannula accidentally comes out?
Apply pressure to the area with cotton
wool, gauze or a clean tissue for at least ten minutes and raise the affected area. Once the bleeding has stopped, apply a plaster and contact your Community Nurse as soon as possible.
What if I feel unwell?
If the following symptoms occur, phone your Community Nurse for advice and further assessment.
•If you begin to feel unwell with high fever, shivering/shaking, vomiting, or dizziness
•If the area around the cannula feels hot, swollen or painful
You may need to be referred to hospital for further treatment.