Equipment & Training
You will receive training in hospital and/or at home by the healthcare professional team (and/or the nurse of the tube feeding company) and should be given plenty of time to practice before being discharged home. The nurses may use a special form to help guide the training you need for tube feeding. This form is then completed at the end of training to ensure you are happy with all aspects of feeding and caring for the feeding tube.
EQUIPMENT YOU MAY REQUIRE TO START TUBE FEEDING
Items you may be given: | Provided by: |
Feeding pump | Tube feed company |
Feeding pump frame | Tube feed company |
Tube feed | Pharmacist/dietitian/nurse
/tube feeding company |
Giving sets and accessories,
e.g. syringes | Check with your dietitian |
Spare feeding tubes | Check with your dietitian |
Syringes | Check with your dietitian |
Carrier pack | Tube feed company |
If you are a parent of a child who is tube feeding, Cameron Camel's story can help explain to your child what a feeding pump is. You can download the booklet here.
Pumps, giving sets, accessories and syringes
The tube feeding pump and feeding pump frame will be supplied on long term loan by the tube feeding company when you or the person you care for are discharged from hospital. To maintain the pump in good working order, make sure you keep the instruction guide handy. You will have the opportunity to go through any questions with the nurses before being discharged home. Most instruction guides also have troubleshooting information in the event of a malfunction or an alarm being activated.
Depending on local arrangements you or the person you care for may receive up to seven days supply of giving sets, syringes and accessories if required when discharged from hospital. This supply will cover what you need until the first home delivery arrives at your house or you collect the equipment from the local district nurse/pharmacist. Always make sure you keep a seven day buffer supply, and contact the tube feeding company or local district nurse/pharmacist in advance to reorder supplies to make sure you don't run out.
TUBE FEEDS
Typically, up to seven days' supply of tube feeds will be provided by the hospital/healthcare team when you or the person you care for are discharged from hospital. You'll be given a prescription for the tube feeds, which can be sent to the pharmacist of the tube feeding company or given to your local pharmacy. It's important to remember to renew your prescription for your tube feed before your supply runs out.
