Routine Care for a Chest Drain on a Respiratory Ward

Following a national patient safety agency enquiry, which found severe harm and unnecessary deaths associated with the insertion of a chest drain, standards for the insertion of a chest drain have improved greatly across the country with detailed guidance. As important as its safe insertion, is the safe routine care of a chest drain. Without continuous monitoring and proactive management, the patient can experience serious adverse events.

The aim of this National Welsh Standard is to provide some simple steps to the safe routine care of a chest drain, while a patient is admitted to a respiratory ward.