Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale Intravenous Therapy Team contact information
Duty phone: 07966 240712
Office phone: 01706 517985
7 days a week, 8am to 8pm
What is Intravenous Therapy?
The term intravenous or IV is used when medicine is given straight into your blood, into a vein. The device that is used will depend on the treatment you are having and how long you need the treatment for.
What does IV Therapy in the community involve?
This means being seen in a clinic close to home or if you are bed bound in your home by a nurse, to give you intravenous medication. The time will be agreed between you and the nurse. You will be given written information and contact numbers as help is available.
Your intravenous cannula
A cannula is a small plastic tube that is inserted with a needle through the skin, into one of your veins. The needle is then removed so that only the plastic tube is left in your vein. This is inserted in a very clean way and can be left in situ. It will be assessed daily.
What are the risks with a cannula?
- Any object, including a cannula, that breaks the skin has a risk of letting infection into the body. A good clean aseptic insertion technique will reduce the risk
- The cannula can rub the vein and cause irritation. There is less risk if the cannula is inserted away from joints, secured well and has an extension on it
- Difficult or unsuccessful insertions can result in bruising, especially if you have small veins
- Insertion and removal of the cannula site may bleed
Caring for your cannula following treatment
If you experience any of the following symptoms please inform the nurse as soon as possible as these could be signs of infection:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Chills or sweats
- Raised temperature
- Feeling generally unwell
- Heat or redness around the cannula or up your arm
How to take care of your cannula
- Try to keep your cannula dressing clean and dry. A rubber glove or cling film can help with this when washing
- Only touch the cannula when you need to
- Do not pull the cannula or anything that may be attached to it
- Take care especially when changing clothing
- Report any problems as soon as possible
- Avoid sports where the cannula may be dislodged
Contact Information
Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale Intravenous Therapy Team: (HITT)
We are based within - SDEC (Same Day Emergency Unit) Level B
Rochdale Infirmary Whitehall Street Rochdale
OL12 0NB
Duty phone 1: 07966 240712
Office Phone: 01706 517985
Email: rochhitt@nca.nhs.uk
NHS 111 (part of NHS Choices) is a 24-hour phone advice service providing confidential health advice and information. Phone: 111 (Textphone 18001 111) www.nhs.uk
Patient Advice and Liaison Service
The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) acts on behalf of service users, families and carers to negotiate prompt solutions and help bring about changes in the way that services are developed.
As well as providing a confidential advice and support service, PALS will help guide you through the different services available from the NHS.
Telephone: 0161 778 5665
Email: pals@nca.nhs.uk
Comments and complaints
We want to learn from comments and complaints about our services. If you have any, please speak with a member of staff. Every effort will be made to resolve any concerns and complaining will not cause any difficulties in your care with us.
Email: office.complaints@nca.nhs.uk
Telephone: 0161 656 1141
References
PAGE 24 & 29 Dougherty L, Watson J (2008) Vascular access devices: insertion and management. In Dougherty L, Lister S (Eds) The Royal Marsden Hospital Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures. Seventh edition. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, 855-918.
Page 24 & 29 Higgins D (2004) Peripheral venous cannulation.
Nursing Times. 100, 41, 32-33.
Scales K (2005) Vascular access: a guide to peripheral venous cannulation. Nursing Standard. 19, 49, 48-52.
Date of Review: June 2023
Date of Next Review: June 2025
Ref No: PI_DS_958 (HMR)