The newly updated Nasogastric Feeding Tube (NG) Policy (Adults) can be found on the Recent Updates page of the Policies and Documents library.

All colleagues involved in NG tube care should ensure they have read the updated policy. NG tube training sessions are also available for colleagues to familiarise themselves with the changes. You can book onto training either by searching Nasogastric on EPR or by vising the Nutrition and Dietetics homepage on the intranet.

The main changes to be aware of are:

Use our new technology, DoubleCHEK, for nasogastric (NG) tube insertions - a must do

This new technology is a safety initiative which checks for the presence of high concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2). A high CO2 level means the tube has likely been placed into the respiratory tract instead of the gastrointestinal tract. The policy now states that this device should be used on insertion, to minimise the risk of misplacement.

Freshly drawn drinking water for use with NG tubes

For patients who are not immunocompromised (for example, oncology patients) it has been agreed that freshly drawn drinking water can be used to flush NG tubes. This will reduce the Trust's plastic waste, and help save money. 

Please note: This refers to NG tubes not Naso jejunal tubes.

Red check x-ray warning stickers

Another patient safety initiative. When a patient requires a chest x-ray to confirm tube position, a red warning sticker should be placed over the end of the tube, to provide a visual cue that this tube is awaiting position confirmation.

You may have already spotted the Nutrition CNS Team delivering these stickers in your area over the past week. If you haven't received these stickers, or if you need to replenish them in the future, please contact Materials Management. 

Student nurse participation in NG tube insertion and ongoing management

Under direct clinical supervision of a competent practitioner, nursing students can now insert NG tubes.

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Nutrition Nurse Specialist, Emma Wilson, and Specialist Nurse, Jonathan Wood, spent some time experiencing having a Nasogastric Tube inserted. Emma said: "Many of our patients require nasogastric tube insertion for nutritional support, and it has been really useful for us to experience this process. We hope it will strengthen our understanding and empathy to our patients."