Many patients experience unnecessary pain, bruising, and distress when doctors or other NHS staff have difficulty inserting cannulas, often needing multiple attempts. In some cases, staff have even re-used the same needle, which is unsafe and increases the risk of infection.

Skills fade over time, especially for staff who perform cannulation infrequently, yet refresher training isn’t required nationally and policies vary between NHS Trusts. The Government should work with NHS England to introduce mandatory refresher training and competency reassessment every three years. This would improve patient safety, reduce complications, and ensure consistent standards across the NHS.