CPOC launches Sip Til Send webpage and resources

A new dedicated webpage and resources about an initiative to allow patients to sip small volumes of water while waiting for surgery has been launched. The Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC) – a partnership led by PIF member the Royal College of Anaesthetists – has compiled a wealth of information and guidelines on the Sip Til Send initiative.

The Sip Til Send initiative allows people to sip water until they are sent for by the operating theatre team. Traditional policies allowed clear fluids until two hours before surgery and then Nil By Mouth until patients had their operation. With difficulties predicting when an operation will start, some patients can be without food or drink for hours. This can cause dehydration and discomfort. Sip Til Send has already been adopted by many UK NHS trusts and boards. 

The new protocol, which CPOC strongly recommends should be adopted by more NHS trusts and boards, states: 

• No food for 6 hours before surgery
• Unlimited clear fluids (water, black tea, black coffee, squash, juice without bits or oral carbohydrate drinks) until 2 hours before surgery
• Sip Til Send – water, black tea, black coffee or squash; up to 170mls per hour until the operating team send for the patient. For a child, the amount is up to 3ml per kilogram body weight per hour. Babies may have breast milk until three hours before surgery
• This applies to all patients unless a senior clinician has requested an individual “opt out”.

The new CPOC resources include information for Trusts thinking of implementing the policy and patient information leaflets.

Discover more about the initiative and find the new resources on the CPOC website here.