This policy has been developed in response to the National Patient Safety Agency
(NPSA) Patient Safety Alert 22 and the DHSSPS Circular HSC (SQS) 20/2007
and its addendum, which advises that in the UK since 2000 sub-standard
intravenous fluid management has resulted in the deaths of four children and
serious neurological injury to one child from acquired hyponatraemia. International
literature cites that there have been more than 50 cases of serious injury and
associated with the mal-administration of hypotonic infusions ((NPSA/2007/22).
This policy has been developed in accordance with the Trust’s key principles and
in consultation with appropriate internal and external stakeholders.