A syringe driver, sometimes called a syringe pump, is a small battery-powered pump that gives medicine slowly and continuously through a thin tube placed just under the skin. It’s often set to give medicine over 24 hours.

It can be used at home, in hospital, in a hospice or in a care home. A nurse or doctor should explain why it is being suggested, which medicines will be given and who to contact if you are worried.

Why might someone need a syringe driver?

A syringe driver can help when taking medicine by mouth has become difficult or is no longer working well. This may be because the person:

• has difficulty swallowing tablets or liquids

• feels sick or is vomiting

• is very sleepy or unconscious

• cannot absorb medicine reliably through their stomach

• needs a steady amount of medicine to keep symptoms under control

Using a syringe driver can avoid repeated injections and keep medicine flowing at a steady rate.

What medicines can be given?

The medicines given through a syringe driver depend on the person’s symptoms. They may be used to help with pain, sickness, breathlessness, agitation or noisy chest secretions. More than one medicine can sometimes be given through the same pump.

The prescription is individual to the person. Their symptoms and medicines should be reviewed regularly, and the dose can be changed if needed. Extra medicine may also be available for symptoms that break through between reviews.

Does a syringe driver mean someone will die soon?

Not necessarily. Syringe drivers are often used near the end of life because swallowing can become difficult, but they can also be used at other stages of illness. Some people need one for a short time and later return to taking medicine another way.

A syringe driver does not tell you exactly how long someone has left. If you are unsure what it means for the person you care about, ask their doctor or nurse to explain why it is being used now.

Will it make them sleepy or speed up their death?

The purpose of a syringe driver is to relieve symptoms, not to speed up dying. Some medicines can cause drowsiness, while the illness itself may also make a person sleepier. The care team should use medicines and doses chosen for that person and review how they respond.

If they become much sleepier after a medicine is started or changed, or you are worried about any other effect, talk to the nurse or doctor looking after them.

What does a syringe driver feel like?

A nurse places a small soft tube just under the skin, often in the arm, chest, tummy or thigh. Once it is in place, the medicine is given slowly. The pump is small and is usually carried in a pouch.

The area of the body where the syringe driver has been placed should not be painful. Tell a nurse if the skin becomes red, swollen, sore or wet, or if the tube comes out.

Who looks after the syringe driver?

In a healthcare setting, Nurses will check the pump, the tube, the person’s symptoms and their medicines. At home, the community nursing team will usually visit regularly and should give you a number to call if there is a problem.

Don’t change the settings, press the controls or remove the syringe driver yourself unless a healthcare professional has specifically told you to do so.

When should I ask for help?

Contact the nurse or care team if:

• the alarm sounds or the pump appears to stop

• the pump is dropped, damaged or gets wet

• the tube comes out, becomes disconnected or starts to leak

• the liquid changes colour or looks cloudy

• the skin around the tube becomes red, swollen, sore or painful

• the person’s symptoms are not controlled or they seem uncomfortable

A syringe driver can look unfamiliar, but you are not expected to manage it alone. Ask the care team to show you what to look for, explain the medicines and write down who to contact during the day and out of hours.