AIBU to have been shocked of the selling of IV drips in our shopping centre.

[Trialanderror02]

Hi
bit of background my DD has intestinal failure, and so requires IV nutrition via a central line every day for 14 hours. This has landed us in many tricky dangerous situations over the years. Her IV nutrition bags are for fluids / vitamins / micro elements / metals / glucose. This bags are yellow fluid not usual IV saline bags.
We were shopping yesterday for pyjamas in Westfield’s and I was shocked to discover in a pop up seating area with IV stands and 2 women taking selfies attached to these exact looking IV bags, apparently this is a thing 🙈 I looked at the “ menu “ which literally looked like a cocktail bar menu. You could design you own IV bag by adding certain elements for more money etc.
Am I behind the times to be shocked about this casually being sold in the middle of a shopping centre ?
One of them is called a party drip.

Yes I’ve seen these, you can also get them to do a home visit.

Saw this on Dragons Den, I thought then it's incredibly, dangerously, invasive, absolutely no way José!!!

I don’t know why everyone’s so shocked about this being done in a shopping centre ?! You do know that when a nurse hooks you up to one of these it’s not done in a sterile room? I assume the nurses who hook you up to a drip in a shopping centre know about ANTT since they’re...nurses.

I also don’t get why the fact that your daughter has to use TPN is at all relevant to IV infusions being sold in a shopping centre. It’s not the same stuff your daughter relies on and other people having IVs doesn’t affect your daughter at all, or stop her from getting hers.

I would never get one of these because I don’t want unnecessary scars on my veins and they’re stupidly expensive but I don’t understand all the pearl clutching over it. I’m a nurse

And are the people using these IV drips being cannulated by a qualified clinician?

@halfmoonfullmoon

I don’t know why everyone’s so shocked about this being done in a shopping centre ?! You do know that when a nurse hooks you up to one of these it’s not done in a sterile room? I assume the nurses who hook you up to a drip in a shopping centre know about ANTT since they’re...nurses.

I also don’t get why the fact that your daughter has to use TPN is at all relevant to IV infusions being sold in a shopping centre. It’s not the same stuff your daughter relies on and other people having IVs doesn’t affect your daughter at all, or stop her from getting hers.

I would never get one of these because I don’t want unnecessary scars on my veins and they’re stupidly expensive but I don’t understand all the pearl clutching over it. I’m a nurse

I've been thinking this as I was reading the thread!

I've spent time on TPN and I'm not offended by this in the slightest.

this is absolutely disgusting!! Im lost for words!!!

@Clearaschristal

this is absolutely disgusting!! Im lost for words!!!

why?! What’s so ‘disgusting’ about it?!

A shopping centre just seems very casual for a procedure that is not.

Would this service be regulated and inspected by the CQC?
Would appropriate infection control procedures be used?
Would the fluids be stored correctly?
Would they be prescribed by a Dr taking into account the persons medical history and any other medication or supplements they take?
Is there a proper consent process where the risks and benefits are explained?
Would the IV be set up by a nurse or paramedic who was appropriately qualified using good technique to minimise risk of air embolism or site infection?
Would the sharps and contaminated needles be disposed of correctly to avoid risk of blood borne infections ?
Would the person be safe if they had an anaphylactic reaction or some other emergency in a non clinical environment? Are staff appropriately trained to deal with this scenario including having a defib and emergency meds available and the skill to use them.
Do the practitioners have indemnity insurance so that if anyone is harmed and sues they can be compensated?

So many many reasons why this is a shit idea and should not be allowed.
It is quackery and dangerous quackery at that.
Whilst the procedure itself is probably usually safe the risks are not zero and yet the benefits are so it should not be allowed.

My gosh another wonder

I have not read all of the threads yet ( I apologise )
This is so sad that cheap vitamins, minerals are available for all our needs through food and drinks. This can be customised to all needs!!
They are mostly harmless and also as useful as a drink of water.
They do not have medically supported claims and essentially are not prescribed so NMC ,GMC would not be concerned but are keeping a watchful eye as ads are totally misleading.
A shameful con and impressionable people will have a vitamin drip costing two months food bills, morally disgraceful not illegal.

GMC says that nutrition or hydration provided IV is medical treatment and as such it should be regulated.

Hi
They are vitamin solutions often given in hospital during alcohol withdrawal / detox , I'd not have one willingly I found them during my detox and it was uncomfortable.
It's to replace list vitamins etc.

‘Should be regulated’
But not totally, these comply just within legal boundaries, hence why morally disgusting, sadly not yet illegal.

essentially are not prescribed

But the ingredients are prescription only medicines. At least, this is the case if the ingredients are the same as those added to the OP’s DD’s PN (which I hope they are - otherwise how can they be assured to be sterile?). Hence the website going on about employing doctors.

They are CQC registered but have not yet been inspected. www.cqc.org.uk/provider/1-4942973341/services

Yes it’s ridiculous and doesn’t work. Wallies.

More info: www.england.nhs.uk/2019/12/party-drips/

I was interested to read that these companies have been told to screen kidney & liver function before prescribing...

Saw this a few months ago in westfield and I just stood still gawping. Literally couldn't believe that just casually, in the middle of a pretty busy part of westies stood this cocktail bar of IV solutions.
Mentioned it to my niece and she shrugged her shoulders as if it was the norm.
I'm still staggered.

I’ve been past this concession in Westfield multiple times - I’ve never seen a single client. I think most people must find it a bit bonkers plus the prices are quite high so it isn’t the type of thing you just “treat” yourself to during a shopping trip. Seems like a bit of a novelty thing which might interest overseas visitors to Westfield. Wonder if the business model is better suited to a different location?

Yabu, why are you mentioning central line since this guys are not administering it through CN, it is no where near TPN(tpn isn't exposed to light)
Could be PPN.
What difference between sitting in a pub and drinking themselves to death.

My 6 year old DC has regular IVs in hospital and in the past has suffered from a nasty extravasation iv injury, half their body swelled up and the skin where the cannula was, got infected.

@Trialanderror02

Haha *@Toddlerteaplease* I just feel I don’t know maybe a little offended by it 🤣🤷‍♀️Which might be wrong but I can’t help it. My daughter goes through so much and relies on those ingredients.

I'm offended by it too!

I have a PICC line into a vein on the inside of my upper arm, through which I am 'fed' a bag of nutrition over 12 hours each night. It takes me 45 minutes to set up the sterile environment needed and to attach the bag every night, and another 30 minutes to clean and take everything down again in the morning. I realise I have to be hyper-aware of infection as the PICC line leads to my heart, but how on earth can they get a clean enough environment in a shopping centre, of all places - and during a pandemic - to be inserting needles into people's veins?!

I think it trivialises something which, for some of us, is an invasive, time consuming, depressing necessity.

Good point about it being administered peripherally. Hasn't thought if that.

IVs need to be prescribed, how they can do this without knowing the full medical history is astonishing.

@Parcelle

Yes have seen these. You can add vitamins etc depending on what you think you need.

Ridiculous. Although do know of doctors giving themselves fluids at work after a night out!

Yes I have worked with many over the years who did this after a night out!