Mixing drugs in pre-filled syringes

We’ve received reports that some staff may be drawing up IV morphine with pre-filled sodium chloride syringes, so in effect adding morphine to the pre-filled syringe. This practice needs to stop with immediate effect as it carries significant risk to our patients.

Sodium chloride syringes are for the flushing of IV cannulas only, and not for the preparation of medication.

Intravenous morphine should be drawn up via a drawing-up needle with 0.9% sodium chloride solution, to make a concentration of 10mg in 10ml. This is best achieved using a 10ml syringe (as per JRCALC). The syringe should be labelled accordingly and the morphine kept in a safe place when not in use.

For further guidance, you can read our previous article on Need to Know about pre-filled syringes.  

Please remember that the drawing-up and administration of morphine can only be performed by a registered paramedic.

Published 15th December, 2016