Guide · checked October 2026
Cath lab handover to recovery, CCU or the ward
A good cath lab handover is structured, both verbal and written, and documented: it covers what was done, access and closure, devices, medications and anticoagulation, contrast and dose, complications, open items and the plan, and it is acknowledged by the receiving nurse.
What the standards say
The 2015 National Safety Standards for Invasive Procedures, now superseded by NatSSIPs 2, had a section on handovers and information transfer. It said handovers should be verbal and written and documented, with structured forms considered; that only one person should speak at a time and the conversation should be only about the patient; and that there should be a formal handover from the ward to the procedure team. We found no current cath lab-specific handover standard on an official page, so follow your local procedures and policy.
A practical structure
- Procedure performed and key findings, in the operator's words.
- Access site, sheath, closure method and what to watch.
- Devices implanted.
- Medications given, anticoagulation and when to restart regular medicines.
- Contrast volume, relevant for kidney monitoring.
- Complications, or a clear statement that none were recorded.
- Open items: results awaited, events not yet validated, follow-up.
- Plan and who to call.
Closing the loop
Ask the receiving nurse to acknowledge the handover and record who received it and when. Open items should have an owner. Most handover failures are not missing information but information nobody took responsibility for.
Common gaps
- "No complications" said when nobody actually stated it.
- Anticoagulant restart left to the ward to work out.
- Results ordered in the lab with no named person to chase them.
Where Cath Copilot fits
Cath Copilot drafts a handover to CCU, recovery or the ward from the validated record, with a citation on every statement, including open items such as unvalidated events or an anticoagulant with no restart plan. It says plainly when complications rest on unvalidated dictation. The receiving nurse acknowledges it, and results and follow-up items are tracked until a named person closes them.
Cath Copilot is a prototype on synthetic data only. It is not a medical device and is not for clinical use.
Questions
Should handover be verbal or written?
The 2015 NatSSIPs said both, and documented, with structured forms considered.
Who should acknowledge the handover?
The receiving nurse or clinician, with the time recorded, so responsibility is clear.
Sources
Official pages, checked October 2026. Guidance changes, so check the current version before you rely on it.
General information for healthcare managers and clinical teams, checked October 2026. It is not legal, regulatory or clinical advice; follow the current official guidance and your organisation's own policies. No patient data is used in these examples. Cath Copilot is a prototype running on synthetic data only. It is not a medical device and is not for clinical use. It recommends, drafts, and routes; it never diagnoses, orders, or decides. A clinical safety and information-governance process precedes any use with real patient data.