Central Venous Access Devices (CVADs) are medical devices which are placed in a large vein. They are usually sited in the neck, upper chest or arm. CVADs are used to provide access to give medication and treatment to patients, either in hospital or sometimes at home. Because these devices break the integrity of the skin, there is a risk that an infection may enter the blood stream.
Initiated by the Infection Control Team, the Vascular Access Team was set up as a one year project to tackle MRSA infections related to CVADs. It has been nationally recognised that standardised procedures and equipment minimise the risk of infections related to CVADs. These procedures outlined in the Department of Health’s Saving Lives document (www.clean-safe-care.nhs.uk) have been adopted across the Trust, with positive results. This is due to all those staff who have worked hard with the Vascular Access Team to implement and achieve this.
The team has been restructured, and now works closely with the Critical Care Out-Reach Team to ensure the most effective use of resources. We plan to continue to support staff and patients.
Developments include a peripherally inserted central catheter and midline insertion service. These are for patients needing medium to long term intravenous therapy, or intravenous nutrition. We aim to facilitate appropriate and timely treatment to be commenced.
This service is supported by the Nurse Consultant for Critical Care and the Consultant Intensivist.
Information for staffTo locate all training and assessment documents, please follow this link- http://nww.picts.nhs.uk/PHNetLive/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=1731 (only available from Trust PCs)