Information for patients at home who need intravenous therapy through a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC Line)
Information for patients from the Oncology Team and Hospital at Home Team
This leaflet is not meant to replace the information discussed between you and your doctor or nurse, but can act as a useful reminder of the key points.
Patient label
(Place patient label here)
PICC Line insertion details
Date of PICC insertion: ______________________________________
Hospital of insertion: ________________________________________
Inserted by (IV Access Nurse Specialist): ________________________
External line length at insertion: ________________________________
Total line length of PICC at insertion: ____________________________
Securement used:
☐ SecurAcath®
☐ StatLock®
Information for patients / carers
What is a PICC Line and what is it used for?
A PICC Line is a long, flexible hollow tube. It is inserted into a vein in your upper arm and threaded into a larger vein. The tip of the line sits in a large vein near your heart.
A PICC Line allows medicines and fluids to be given directly into your bloodstream.
Your PICC Line may be used for the following.
Chemotherapy
Intravenous antibiotics (antibiotics given directly into your vein)
Intravenous medicines (medicines given directly into your vein)
Fluids
Blood transfusions (if appropriate)
Your PICC Line can stay in place for as long as you need it, as long as it is working well and there are no complications.
An IV access nurse specialist will insert the PICC in hospital, usually using ultrasound guidance. If it needs replacing, you will need to return to hospital so they can insert a new line.
How will my PICC Line be held in place?
Your PICC Line will be secured with one of the following.
SecurAcath® – a small securement device placed just under the skin at the insertion site
StatLock® – a securement device that sticks to the skin
-
SecurAcath® -
StatLock®
We will place a transparent dressing over the PICC site to protect it.
We may place a blue gauze dressing under the transparent dressing immediately after insertion.
If we used a blue gauze dressing, we will remove this and change the dressing after 24 hours.
If we did not use a blue gauze dressing and apply skin glue, the dressing can usually stay in place and be changed after 7 days.
After this we will:
change the dressing every 7 days
change the needle-free connector / bung / cap every 7 days
flush the PICC Line with normal saline, as part of your routine care
If the dressing becomes wet, loose, dirty, or starts to lift, please change it sooner.
Your referring team will change your dressing.
For inpatients: the ward staff.
For Hospital at Home patients: the Hospital at Home nurse.
For oncology patients: the oncology unit staff.
How should I look after my PICC Line?
Keep your dressing as clean and dry as possible.
Try not to touch or disturb the dressing.
Protect the line from knocks or pulling.
Take extra care when dressing and undressing.
Wear clean, loose-fitting clothing where possible.
Avoid heavy lifting or repetitive movements with the arm the PICC Line is in.
Check the site regularly for redness, swelling, pain, leakage, or if the line looks longer than before.
Please tell your nurse if you experience any of the following or you have any concerns about your PICC Line.
Your dressing becomes wet, dirty, loose, or falls off.
You notice pain, redness, swelling, bleeding, or leakage.
You feel hot, cold, feverish, or shivery.
The line appears to have moved or looks longer than before.
Please speak to the team caring for you if:
you think you no longer need the PICC Line
you have any other concerns
Can I have a bath or shower?
You may shower, but your dressing must be kept as dry as possible.
Avoid soaking the PICC Line in water.
Avoid baths, swimming pools, hot tubs, and saunas.
Keep the dressing covered when showering, if possible.
If the dressing becomes wet but remains in place, tell your nurse at your next visit.
If the dressing becomes very wet, loose, or starts to lift, please contact the team as they may need to change it sooner.
Shower sleeves are available from most pharmacies.
If your team provides you with a prescription request form for a Limbo® shower sleeve
Take the request form to your GP.
Your GP can issue a prescription.
Take the prescription to your pharmacy.
The pharmacy can supply the shower sleeve.
How long can my PICC Line stay in?
Your PICC Line can stay in place for weeks to months. This will depend on your treatment and whether it continues to work well without complications. You will discuss this with the team before they insert your PICC Line.
When can my PICC Line be removed?
Your PICC Line will usually stay in place until you finish your treatment.
We may remove it sooner for one or more of the following reasons.
It is no longer needed.
It becomes infected.
It becomes blocked and cannot be unblocked.
It becomes painful, red, or sore.
It becomes dislodged or moves out of position.
A trained healthcare professional will remove your PICC Line when it is no longer needed. Please do not remove the PICC Line yourself. If your PICC Line is secured with SecurAcath®, they will remove the PICC Line before removing the SecurAcath® device. This can cause brief discomfort, but this usually only lasts a few seconds.
After removal of the PICC Line
We will apply gentle pressure until any bleeding stops.
We will apply a dry sterile dressing. You can remove this dressing after 24 hours.
What happens if my PICC Line falls out?
Do not panic.
There may be some bleeding from the site.
Apply pressure to the site using gauze, cotton wool, or clean tissue.
Keep firm pressure on the area.
Raise your arm, if needed.
Once the bleeding has stopped, place a plaster or dressing over the site.
Contact the team caring for you and tell them what has happened.
If the bleeding does not stop
Keep applying firm pressure.
Raise your arm above your head.
Contact your team immediately.
If bleeding is heavy or you feel unwell, go to your nearest Emergency Department or call 999.
Are there any risks or side effects to this procedure?
PICC Line insertion and care is usually safe. However, as with all invasive procedures there are some risks, including the following.
Difficulty inserting the PICC Line
Bruising or bleeding around the insertion site
Infection
Blood clot (thrombosis)
Blocked PICC Line
PICC Line migration (the line moves or appears longer than before)
Phlebitis (pain or redness along the vein)
Rarely, injury to a nerve, tendon, or artery
Occasionally, failure to insert or need for replacement
If you have any concerns or questions, please speak to your nurse or the team caring for you
What are the signs and symptoms to look out for?
Please contact your nurse or team if you notice any of the following.
Signs of a possible infection
Redness at the site
Pain or tenderness
Swelling
Heat around the site
Discharge or leakage
Fever
Feeling hot, cold, or shivery
Feeling generally unwell
Signs of possible thrombosis (blood clot)
Swelling of the arm, hand, shoulder, neck, or face on the PICC Line side
Pain in the arm or shoulder
A heavy feeling in the arm
Veins becoming more visible
Signs of a possible PICC Line problem
The line appears longer than before
The line is leaking
The dressing is wet, loose, or lifting
The cap / bung is missing or damaged
The line is difficult to flush
The line has fallen out
Important
If you have any concerns about your PICC Line, please contact the team caring for you.
Oncology Team, if you are under oncology care.
Hospital at Home Team, if you are receiving treatment at home.
Please go to your nearest Emergency Department immediately or call 999, if you develop:
chest pain
shortness of breath
heavy bleeding, and / or
feel suddenly very unwell.
Contact details
Oncology Services
Cathedral Day Unit, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury
Telephone: 01227 783096Viking Day Unit, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital, Margate
Telephone: 01843 234488Celia Blakely Unit, William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
Telephone: 01233 616194
IV Access Teams (available Monday to Friday; 9am to 4pm)
IV Access Team, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury
Telephone: 07786 976304IV Access Team, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital, Margate
Telephone: 07500 087627IV Access Team, William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
Telephone: 07951 445612
Hospital at Home Team
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Hospital at Home Team on one of the following numbers. The team is available between 8am and 6pm. After 6pm you can leave a message, which the team will pick up the following day.
Hospital at Home Team, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury
Telephone: 07973 674367Hospital at Home Team, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital, Margate
Telephone: 07771 385011Hospital at Home Team, William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
Telephone: 07771 384940
References
Loveday, H.P. et al. National evidence-based guidelines for preventing healthcare-associated infections in NHS hospitals in England. Journal of Hospital Infection 2014 epic3, 86 (S1), S1–S70.
[Web sites last accessed 26 June 2026]
The following information is for healthcare professionals caring for the PICC Line
Routine PICC Line care
□ Confirm external line length matches insertion record
□ Inspect insertion site and surrounding skin
□ Check securement device in situ (SecurAcath® or StatLock®)
□ Change dressing if:
due at 7 days
wet
loose
soiled
lifting
□ If blue gauze dressing present post-insertion, remove and redress at 24 hours
□ If no blue gauze and skin glue used, dressing may remain in situ until day 7
□ Change needle-free connector / bung / cap every 7 days
□ Flush with 0.9% sodium chloride, as per local policy before and after use
□ Escalate concerns regarding:
migration
occlusion
suspected thrombosis
suspected infection
pain
leakage
damaged line
PICC Line removal (including SecurAcath®)
In line with local policy, a trained healthcare professional will remove the PICC Line.
If secured with StatLock®
□ Remove dressing
□ Release and remove StatLock®
□ Remove PICC line slowly and steadily
□ Apply pressure until haemostasis achieved
□ Apply dry sterile dressing
If secured with SecurAcath®
Important:
□ First unclip the top cap of the SecurAcath®
□ Remove the PICC Line before removing the SecurAcath® device that sits under the skin.
Recommended removal sequence for SecurAcath®
□ Remove dressing
□ Unclip / remove the top cap of the SecurAcath®
□ Remove the PICC Line first
□ Remove the SecurAcath® feet / clip from under the skin, using the appropriate removal technique
□ Apply pressure until haemostasis achieved
□ Apply dry sterile dressing
Additional note
Explain to patient before removal, that removal of SecurAcath® may cause brief discomfort
Use the approved local technique for SecurAcath® removal
After PICC removal
□ Confirm line removed intact
□ Confirm total line length on removal
□ Apply dry sterile dressing
□ Advise dressing can usually be removed after 24 hours
PICC Line removal details
Date PICC removed: ________________________________________
Removed by: ______________________________________________
Total line length on removal: ___________________________________
Line removed intact: ☐ Yes ☐ No
Staff documentation reminder (PICC Line removal)
When a PICC is removed, complete the removal documentation on Sunrise.
Go to Enter Documents
Search for Vascular Devices: Completion and Removal
Complete the record in full, including:
date of removal
who removed the PICC
total line length on removal
confirmation the line was intact on removal, and
any complications or concerns