‘Sew’ Much More Than a Bag
BCHC Charity has been working in collaboration with the Medical Devices Team and the District Nursing Teams to help address the ongoing issues with lost syringe drivers across the Trust.
A syringe driver is a small pump that delivers a steady flow of medicines through a small tube placed just under the skin. These portable devices can be carried around, helping to manage symptoms for various medical conditions at any stage of treatment. The loss of these essential devices has a huge impact on patient care, and as such the teams got together to tackle this challenge.
Following a successful pilot with the South District Nursing Teams over a four-month period, the Trust secured a three-year contract with Idox, a leading asset tracking company. Using the iAsset tracking system, nurses can ensure that devices are located quickly when needed, allowing them to focus more on patient care. Accurate tracking also enables timely maintenance and servicing, helping to ensure reliability and improve patient outcomes.
During the pilot, feedback highlighted that adding the tracking tag made the existing syringe driver cases slightly larger, so the old bags for patients to carry their device in were no longer suitable. To address this, the Charity Team connected the District Nurses with a local sewing group, which is now producing custom-made bags for the devices. This collaboration has resulted in an estimated saving of £8 per bag compared to the previous supplier. Additionally, the new bags are available in a variety of colours and patterns, making them less clinical in appearance and helping the devices blend in more discreetly when patients are out and about.
Theresa, one of our volunteer crafters, says, "It's incredibly rewarding to know that something as simple as a handmade bag can make a real difference to patients. I have grown up sewing, making my own clothes as a teenager and many outfits for family members over the years. I was happy to use my skills to adapt the design that existed to create a bag that met the District Nursing Teams' needs and then develop a pattern that others can easily follow. By sharing the pattern, more people can now donate their time and sewing skills, helping produce more bags and support even more people.’’
If you would like to help make syringe driver bags for our District Nursing Teams, please contact the Charity Team for a copy of the sewing pattern. Whether you're an experienced sewer, part of a craft group, or looking to volunteer your skills, your support could help improve comfort and dignity for patients.