Every year, more than 250,000 children are treated on paediatric surgical wards across the UK. Almost all these young patients require intravenous access during their treatment. We know from young patients and their families that placing IV lines is often the most distressing and difficult aspect of any hospital visit, and despite being a routine part of paediatric surgical care, their insertion can be uncomfortable and upsetting for young patients. Due to the small size of children’s veins, even the most experienced clinicians may require multiple attempts and considerable time to achieve venous access. The experience is also traumatic for young patients’ families and the medical teams who care for them.

The Beam Campaign aims to improve this experience by supplying a device that makes the placement of intravenous IV lines quicker and easier for every paediatric surgical centre in the UK. These ultrasound vein finders cost between £5,000 and £30,000 each, depending on the type of machine the hospital requests. For instance, a small hand-held machine, no bigger than a mobile phone, provides flexibility, while the larger machines on trolleys provide greater resolution and are the most expensive.

Watch our film, narrated by our Patron, Lady Frederick Windsor, to see ultrasound vein finder machines in use.