Speaking at Hospital Pharmacy Europe’s Virtual Study Day on IV medicines safety, Alan Timmins shares his take on all the essentials pharmacists need to know about intravenous fluids. Here, you have exclusive access to the session recording.
Every patient needs a certain baseline fluid level to keep the body ticking over, whether they’re a long-stay patient or in an acute setting. Healthcare professionals must ensure fluid needs are satisfied, encouraging oral intake where possible and establishing support to push fluids intravenously where capacity is limited.
It is widely recognised that fluids are drugs and the National Confidential Enquiry into Perioperative Deaths (NCEPOD), published in 1999, stated that prescriptions of fluids must be given the same status as drug prescriptions – noting that too much can be as bad as too little.
At the time, one in five patients suffered harm from fluids and now, over 25 years on, that figure remains unchanged.
Pharmacists have an important role to play in supporting best practice to optimise patient care and outcomes, as well as driving efficiencies in fluid use, supporting sustainability and more.
Alan Timmins is a consultant critical care pharmacist at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, part of NHS Fife, and has had a long interest in intravenous (IV) therapy, related safety issues and IV stewardship. He champions the role of pharmacists in driving change and embracing innovation to reduce errors and ensure patient safety and works with the International Fluid Academy and Turning the Tide – a UK charity committed to making the use of IV fluids safer.
In this session, Alan discusses the types of IV fluids and their indications; considerations around administration, monitoring and adjustment; managing special populations; and the role of the pharmacist as a key contributor in these processes.
Extend your learning on IV medicines safety and more
Watch more IV medicines safety Virtual Study Day sessions via our On-demand learning zone, including another session from Alan on Licensed ready-to-use and ready-to-administer IV products.
You can also find brand new interviews, case studies, research round-ups, news and much more content to inspire your practice in our medicines safety and pharmacy practice zones.
Watch this space as more Hospital Pharmacy Europe Virtual Study Days will be announced soon.
