Sedation allows patients to tolerate uncomfortable or painful medical procedures. It is administered by a range of clinicians across multiple specialties in NSW public hospitals.
While some health services have well developed processes, there is no consistent framework for the delivery of safe procedural sedation for adults across NSW local health districts, specialty networks and hospitals.
These minimum standards outline the key components of safe procedural sedation for adults to support NSW public health services to provide high-quality patient care.
Virtual care
Use virtual care across the patient perioperative journey, if clinically appropriate. This allows flexibility for consumers, their families and carers.
The Virtual Care in Practice Guide provides information on how to use technology to deliver care remotely.
Standard 1: Pre-procedure
Assessment and risk stratification of all patients receiving procedural sedation.
Standard 2: Intra-procedure
Adequate personnel must be present to manage intended depth of sedation and patient risk.
Standard 3: Post-procedure
Ensure appropriate patient monitoring and the use of discharge criteria.
Standard 4: Planning for adverse events
Managing escalation and de-escalation during and after procedural sedation.
Overview and foundations
Procedural sedation in NSW, including clinical roles, governance, support and training.
Priority populations
Some patients need specific considerations during procedural sedation to ensure the best outcomes.