This page provides tools and information to support the adoption of prefilled syringes in your hospital. Prefilled syringes are currently the most significant solution to mitigate medication errors in anaesthesia, specifically addressing the ongoing patient safety issues related to manual syringe preparation and labelling errors.
To help facilitate the adoption of prefilled syringes, we have provided resources below, including template letters for communication with key stakeholders in your hospital.
Feedback on these resources is welcome, via [email protected]
SALG produced
Frequently asked questions
Letter to Clinical Leaders in Anaesthesia about suxamethonium chloride
Presentation by members of the pre-filled syringes task force at the SALG annual conference, 2024
The case for prefilled syringes slides
External Links
Whitaker, DK; Lomas JP. (2023) Time for Prefilled Syringes - Everywhere. Anaes, 79, pp 119-122
Whitaker, MCA; Whitaker DK. (2023) Science Letter: The impact of using prefilled syringes on a standard operating procedure for preparing injectable medicines in clinical areas. Anaes, 79, pp 98-99
Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Professional guidance on the safe and secure handling of medicines, 2024
Association of Anaesthetists. Handling injectable medications in anaesthesia, 2023
Royal College of Anaesthetists. Safe Drug Management in Anaesthetic practice, 2026
NHS England Patient Safety. Purchasing for Safety [Accessed, Nov 2024]
ISO Standard 26825:2020(E) .Anaesthetic and respiratory equipment – User-applied labels for syringes containing drugs used during anaesthesia- colours, design and performance
Cohen, MR; Smetzer, JL. (2008) Errors with injectable medications: Unlabelled syringes are surprisingly common; Unintended Consequences of High-Alert Stickers; Easily Misread Abbreviations. Hospital Pharmacy, Vol 42(2)
European Board of Anaesthesiology. Recommendations for Safe Medication Practice, 2015
Prefilled Syringe.info [Accessed, Nov 2024]
National Patient Safety Agency Alert. Promoting safer use of injectable medicines, 2007
Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation
Larmene-Beld, KHM; Touwen-Spronk, J; Luttjeboer, J; Taxis, K; Postma, MJ. (2019) A Cost Minimization Analysis of Ready-to-Administer Prefilled Sterilized Syringes in a Dutch Hospital, Clin Ther. 41(6): 1139-1150
Benhamou, D; Piriou, V; et al. (2017) Ready-to-use prefilled syringes of atropine for anaesthesia care in French Hospitals- a budget impact analysis, Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. 36(2) 115-121
Transforming NHS Pharmacy aseptic services in England
Medicines carbon footprint assessment methodology
ApiJect (2024) Life cycle Assessment of the prefilled ApiJect Injector [Video]
Hassan, M; Nadeem, S; Ali, N. (2024) Comparison of use and cost of Ampoules of Atropine, Ephedrine, and Suxamethonium with prefilled syringes in theatres. Ir Med J. Vol 117 (1): 893
Clayton-Smith, M; Kendall-Smith, A; Clarke, T. The Environmental benefits of Using prefilled “Emergency” Drugs. Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Parkinson, EA; Hewavitharane, C; Plews, E; Nunoo, RA et al. The financial and environmental cost of anaesthetic emergency drugs: comparing ampoules with prefilled syringes. BJA. 133(2): 470
Al-Rawi S, Mehta J, Taylor K, Glover D, Ladds S. Economic impact of switching to licensed ready-to-administer injectable anaesthetic and critical care medicines in the National Health Service: a model-based evaluation of pre-filled syringes. BJA. 2026 Sep; 137(3): 818-25.