NHS Tayside Procurement Department

Customer Information Bulletin – April 2014

BD Micro-Fine TM +: Insulin Pen Needle

BD AutoShield™ Duo: Insulin Safety Pen Needle

Nurses are required to use insulin syringes when they areadministering insulin. The BD AutoShieldTM Duo will be recommended when a patient requires support to self-administerinsulin using a pen device. Patients who are selfmanaging theirinsulin injections independently will beable to use conventional pen needles, which are being rationalised to BD Micro-Fine™+ pen needles 5mm.

Dual ended safety devices are an important device in insulin delivery.

To meet the needs of these patients whilst also helping to protect healthcare workers from needlestick injuries, NHS Tayside will be running training sessions on theBD AutoShield™ Duo.

BD Micro-Fine™+ pen needles and BD AutoShield™ Duo

BD AutoShield™ Duo is the first safety pen needle available in 5mm with Automatic Dual Protection. BD AutoShield™ Duo 5mm is the shortest safety pen needle available. It reduces the risk of intramuscular injection and is suitable for all people with diabetes. As with all BD Micro-Fine™+ pen needles, the BD AutoShield™ Duo is compatible with all pens for diabetes treatment*.

To help staff become familiar with the equipment,Karen Bremner/External Training Partner from Becton Dickinson will be running local sessions for staff in NHS Tayside.

The aim of these sessions will be to provide staff with the under-pinning knowledge on the safe use of these products, the opportunity to handle the equipment and to ask any questions. Staff attending will then be able to go back into the workplace and disseminate this information to colleagues.

Below is also an animation link which demonstrates nicely how the device works. This is a great follow up to ward training to allow staff to watch the video and familiarise themselves with the device and how it works. You can also find this link on the procurement website.

Further enquiries to:

  • Karen Bremner, BD Medical, Diabetes Care – 07824858779
  • Claire Edney, BD Medical, Diabetes Care – 07825919154
  • NHS Tayside Customer Services: direct 01382 740700 or ext. 40700 or email

Kind Regards, Sofie Wilkie-De Hertogh, Clinical Procurement Specialist

*All Claims are correct at the time of print, July 2011. All claims relate solely to diabetes drugs and devices currently available in UK

The table below shows current insulin pen needles used in Tayside and the new pen needles which will replace them automatically.

You will not be able to order the new ones until old stock is used up in NDC.

Please continue to check the weekly supplies notification you receive if you order any of these products.

New Product Match

SKU / CODE / DESCRIPTION / 2 OPTIONS FOR INSULIN PEN NEEDLES FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH THE NHS TAYSIDE DIABETES SUPPORT UNIT / RATIONALE / NEW SKU / NEW CODE / NEW DESCRIPTION
023387 / 2168672 / NEEDLE NOVOFINE 30GX8MM / IF PATIENT INJECTING SELF: BD MICROFINE 5MM (THIS WILL FIT ALL BRANDS OF PEN) / / 034482 / 320632 / NEEDLE MICROFINE 31G X 5MM
023431 / 2670552 / NEEDLE NOVOFINE 31GX6MM
034475 / 320631 / NEEDLE MICROFINE 31GX8MM / IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES CLINICAL STAFF AIDING PATIENT WITH THEIR INSULIN PEN: BD AUTOSHIELD DUO(THIS WILL FIT ALL BRANDS OF PEN) / / SKU unknown on 31/03/'14 / 329605 / AUTOSHIELD DUO PEN NEEDLE 5MM