We are pleased to announce the release of new national guidance on Vascular Access Device Flushing and Locking for Paediatric Patients, now available on the NIVAS website. This guidance has been developed collaboratively by a multidisciplinary team of experts, including pharmacists, nurses, and paediatric medication safety officers and NIVAS, to address safety risks and variations in practice. It aims to standardise care and provide evidence-based recommendations to improve outcomes for children and young people.

Key highlights of the guidance include:

• Recommendations on the use of sodium chloride 0.9% and heparin solutions for flushing and locking.
• Guidance on selecting appropriate vascular access devices for paediatric patients.
• Evidence-based strategies for reducing the risk of complications, including catheter occlusions and infections.
• Standardised flushing volumes for paediatric patients.

This document is intended to be a resource for healthcare professionals working with paediatric patients and aligns with national safety priorities to ensure the highest standards of care.

For further information or feedback, please contact Ashifa Trivedi (Editor) at ashifa.trivedi@nhs.net or Andrew Barton (Sub-Editor/Contributor) at andrew.barton@nhs.net.

Keywords: flushing locking access vascular heparin