IV Morphine Use in the ED - FOI Response Register

FoI Number
2025-062
Subject
IV Morphine Use in the ED
Date Received
22/04/2025
Request and Response
  1. Please can you confirm the emergency departments (ED) within your trust - both their name and address?

Accident and Emergency Department, NHS Shetland, South Road, Lerwick, Shetland

  1. In each of your EDs are your registered nurses (RN) allowed to give intravenous (IV) morphine?

RNs can administer IV morphine if prescribed by a doctor and they have completed IV training and immediate life support (ILS) training for adult patients only.

  1. In each of your EDs are your registered nurses allowed to give intravenous (IV) diamorphine?

Infrequently used within our A&E Department, ut can be given by nurses if they have completed IV training and ILS, again for adult patients.

  1. In each of your EDs are your registered nurses allowed to give intravenous (IV) fentanyl?

Not given by nursing staff

  1. If RNs are allowed to give either IV Morphine, IV Diamorphine or IV Fentanyl - did they undertake a specific drug training package?

As above, must have completed IV training course and also be up to date with Immediate Life Support (ILS) Training, which is done annually.

  1. If so which drug, was it for?

For all IV Drugs, the IV training course must have been completed.

  1. Would you be able to share this training package?

Not able to share course. It is done through Staff Development, and followed by a numeracy test.

  1. If they are not allowed to give IV Morphine, IV Diamorphine or IV Fentanyl who is allowed to give each of the drugs?

Fentanyl is given by doctor or consultant

  1. For each of the drugs are there any specific areas where the drugs can only be given within the ED?

No