Improving intravenous fluid prescribing

Intravenous (IV) fluid therapy is integral to the care of patients in hospitals but involves complex decisions. Errors in fluid prescribing are common, leading to significant harm due to inappropriate fluid type, rate or volume. British national guidelines have been developed to improve prescribing, but adherence has been generally poor. The Scottish Government has set up a National IV Fluid Improvement Programme to implement national guidelines throughout Scotland. This article reviews the need for such guidance and discusses how the Scottish National IV Fluid Improvement Programme hopes to achieve its aims across Scotland. This may provide an improvement framework for fluid prescribing in other regions.