Petition · Department of Health and Social Care
Require NHS staff who insert cannulas to have refresher training every 3 years.
Closed
94 signatures
What the petition asks
Many patients experience unnecessary pain, bruising, and distress when doctors or other NHS staff have difficulty inserting cannulas, often needing multiple attempts. In some cases, staff have even re-used the same needle, which is unsafe and increases the risk of infection.
Skills fade over time, especially for staff who perform cannulation infrequently, yet refresher training isn’t required nationally and policies vary between NHS Trusts. The Government should work with NHS England to introduce mandatory refresher training and competency reassessment every three years. This would improve patient safety, reduce complications, and ensure consistent standards across the NHS.
Timeline
| 1 Dec 2025 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 1 Jun 2026 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
94
Status
Closed
Department
Department of Health and Social Care
Opened
1 Dec 2025
Closed
1 Jun 2026
Follow this petition
Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.
Source: the official petition page. Last checked 14 Aug 2026.