All patients with haemodialysis vascular access are at risk of venous or arterial needle/line disconnection or dislodgement which is a life-threatening incident.

The UK Kidney Association Kidney Patient Safety Committee, in collaboration with the ANN UK Vascular Access Community of Practice, VASBI (Vascular Access Society of Britain and Ireland) and Industry partners, have produced two new resources:

• STOP guidance (Safety, Taping, Observation, Pressure monitoring) to enable patients/carers and health care professionals to maintain safety and reduce the risk of needle, line or catheter dislodgement/disconnection.

• MARC poster (Mute, Assess, Reset, Confirm) to raise awareness of safe haemodialysis machine alarm handling.