FOI 25-313 Intraosseous Needles used
Freedom of Information Request
- Reference
- FOI 25-313 Intraosseous Needles used
- Request Date
- 22 Jul 2025
- Response Date
- 20 Aug 2025
- Information Requested
I would like to make a Freedom of Information request regarding the quantities of intraosseous needles used for infusions through bone marrow in medical emergencies as an alternative to failed or difficult Intravenous (IV)' s for the last 24 months. If possible, please break down the data for usage: -by month, - and by type of needle used (i.e. Adult, Paediatric) and whether those needles were inserted via a manual device or a mechanically assisted device.
If it is not possible to provide a detailed breakdown, please supply the total quantities used per month for the period that's available. If any of this request is outside the scope of the FOIA, please answer what you can and advise and assist on the best way to uncover the remainder of the information. Could I please get a reference number for this request?
- Response
Please see the attached sheet detailing the number of times where the drug route has been indicated as intraosseous, broken down by month and age group. Information is recorded in a way that would allow us to report if the needle used was a paediatric or adult IO needle. IO needles are supplied to Scottish Ambulance Service crews in three different sizes, the size of the needle required would depend on the patient’s needs; it is for these reasons we have applied section 17 of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002 as information not held.
We have split the data into age group to provide some indication of where a smaller needle may possibly have been used.
Important Information to Note
Scottish Ambulance Service crews would typically use an IO needle when IV access is not possible, it is not recorded if an IV attempt has been made.
In each incident noted on the attached sheet the method of insertion has been via a mechanically assisted device.
This information has been provided over two tables – T2 and T3. This is because there is a new clinical system being phased in. This phased system has been in place since June 2024 and involves only a portion of Scotland. There is the possibility that an incident from the Terrapace 3 system could be counted in the Terrapace 2 system and therefore the figures in the table should NOT be added together.
For the given data, you will see that some of the figures are shown as, five or less than five, please note that this figure has been suppressed because the statistical value is less than five. The Scottish Ambulance service has a duty, under the Data Protection Act to avoid directly or indirectly revealing any personal details. It is therefore widely understood that provision of statistics on small numbers, five or less are statistically suppressed upon disclosure.
- Response Documents
