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PICC line - reliable access, done properly.

A fine catheter from an arm vein to the large vein above the heart - for chemotherapy, long antibiotic courses and IV nutrition. Placed under ultrasound by a vascular-access specialist, with tip confirmation before first use and the weekly care pathway planned before insertion.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What a private PICC line costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner units.

In short

£450–£900, home the same day.

Procedure Indicative range
PICC line insertion (ultrasound-guided) £450–£900
PICC insertion with ECG tip confirmation £550–£1,000
Midline catheter insertion (1–4 week treatment) £350–£700
Weekly line care (flush + dressing, in clinic) £60–£120
Weekly line care (home visit) £90–£160
PICC removal £100–£250
Vascular-access consultation only £150–£300

Prices vary by hospital and by who inserts the line - interventional radiology suites sit at the top of the range.

The problem

The right device, a confirmed tip, and care that does not fall through the cracks.

Vascular access is where treatment pathways quietly fail - the wrong device chosen, lines used before the tip is checked, weekly care left to chance. We fix all three before insertion.

  • Is a PICC even the right device?

    A four-week antibiotic course may only need a midline; a year of intermittent chemotherapy is better served by a port.

  • No use before tip confirmation

    A catheter tip in the wrong vein causes clots and arrhythmias.

  • Weekly care, arranged before day one

    Flushes, dressing changes and a seven-day troubleshooting line - booked before the line goes in, at a clinic near you or at home.

When it helps

When a PICC line is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means same-day review rather than a routine appointment.

  • Chemotherapy over weeks to months

    Many chemotherapy drugs damage small arm veins. A PICC delivers them safely into a large central vein, cycle after cycle, without repeated cannulas.

  • Long-course IV antibiotics

    Bone, joint, heart-valve and complex infections often need 2–6 weeks of IV antibiotics - a PICC makes outpatient or home IV therapy (OPAT) possible.

  • Parenteral nutrition

    When the gut cannot absorb enough, IV nutrition runs through a central line - a PICC is often the right medium-term device.

  • Irritant or vesicant infusions

    Drugs with high or low pH, or high osmolarity, inflame small veins. Central delivery through a PICC protects the arm.

  • Difficult veins, repeated cannulation

    When every blood test and drip becomes a multi-attempt ordeal, a PICC gives reliable access for infusions and most blood draws.

  • Frequent blood sampling during treatment

    Intensive monitoring - daily bloods during complex treatment - is far kinder through a line than through daily needles.

  • Bridge to an implanted port

    When treatment will run many months, a PICC can start therapy on time while a tunnelled line or implanted port is planned.

  • Red flag: fever, rigors or a swollen arm with a line in

    Fever or shaking chills with a PICC in place can mean line infection, and a swollen arm can mean a clot - both need same-day medical review, not a routine appointment. We route you there.

Device options

The right line depends on the treatment and its length.

What each option involves - from a short midline to a PICC, a tunnelled line or an implanted port - and how the choice is made.

  • PICC line

    A peripherally inserted central catheter - a fine, flexible tube entering an upper-arm vein and ending in the large vein above the heart. The workhorse for treatment lasting weeks to months.

  • Single vs double lumen

    One channel or two. Double-lumen PICCs allow incompatible drugs or simultaneous infusion and sampling - at a slightly higher clot risk, so the smallest suitable device wins.

  • Midline catheter

    A shorter arm catheter that does not reach the central veins. Right for 1–4 weeks of vein-friendly drugs - cheaper and simpler, but not for chemotherapy or irritant infusions.

  • Implanted port (portacath)

    A reservoir under the skin of the chest, accessed by needle each session. Better for many months or years of intermittent treatment - invisible, shower-proof, lower infection rates.

  • Tunnelled central line (Hickman)

    A chest line tunnelled under the skin for intensive, long-term use - stem-cell transplant, long chemotherapy protocols, long-term nutrition.

  • ECG-guided tip placement

    The catheter tip position is confirmed live from your heart trace during insertion - avoiding a chest X-ray and letting the line be used immediately.

  • Securement and dressings

    Adhesive securement devices and transparent dressings hold the line without stitches. Changed weekly; the site stays visible for early problem-spotting.

  • Home and OPAT care

    Weekly flushes and dressing changes at home or in clinic, coordinated with your infusion schedule - the part of the pathway most often left unplanned. We plan it first.

Safety and living with a line

What to expect - honestly.

PICC insertion is a quick, low-risk procedure. The things worth planning are the device choice, the weekly care routine, and knowing the warning signs cold.

  • A local-anaesthetic, awake procedure

    Insertion is done awake under local anaesthetic and takes 30–60 minutes. Most people describe pressure rather than pain, and drive home the same day if not sedated.

  • Bruising and oozing early on

    Mild bruising and a little oozing at the site in the first 48 hours is common and settles. Persistent bleeding through the dressing needs a call the same day.

  • Line infection is the risk that matters most

    Central-line bloodstream infection is uncommon with good care but serious. Fever or rigors with a line in place means same-day review - never wait for the weekly appointment.

  • Thrombosis around the line

    A clot forms around a small percentage of PICCs - a swollen, aching arm is the sign. Treated with anticoagulation; the line can often stay if it is still needed and working.

  • Blockage, migration and mechanical problems

    Lines can block, kink or shift. Most blockages resolve with a flush protocol; a migrated tip needs repositioning or replacement.

  • Living with a PICC

    Showering is fine with a waterproof cover; swimming and heavy lifting with that arm are out. Sleeves cover the line; most people work, cook and drive normally.

  • Keep the dressing intact

    A clean, dry, intact dressing changed weekly is the single best defence against infection. Loose or wet dressings need changing early, not at the next visit.

  • Removal is quick

    When treatment ends the line is slipped out in clinic in minutes - no anaesthetic needed. Pressure for a few minutes, a small dressing, done.

  • Red flags with a line in

    Fever, rigors, a swollen or painful arm, chest pain, breathlessness, or a line that has visibly moved needs same-day medical review or A&E, not a routine call.

Reading your insertion record

Your insertion record in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever unit places the line, the record you and your treating team receive keeps to the same shape.

A UK clinician reviewing a patient’s PICC line insertion record

A quiet reminder

Line documentation is technical by design - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the insertion record and the care plan before your first infusion, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication, device and access vein

    Why the line was placed, the device chosen - PICC, single or double lumen, brand and gauge - and which arm vein carries it.

  2. 02 Technique

    Insertion detail and tip confirmation

    Ultrasound guidance, number of passes, external catheter length, and how the tip position was confirmed - ECG guidance or chest X-ray.

  3. 03 Findings

    Line function and first use

    Flush and aspiration checks, whether the line was used immediately, and any issues noted at insertion.

  4. 04 Impression

    Care plan and review dates

    Read this first: the weekly flush and dressing schedule, who is doing it and where, the planned removal criteria, and the emergency contacts for problems.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

PICC insertion and line care are usually covered when part of an insured treatment pathway such as chemotherapy or IV antibiotics.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about PICC lines.

Quick answers on insertion, living with a line, care, cost and warning signs.

  • What is a PICC line and where does it sit?

    A PICC - peripherally inserted central catheter - is a fine, flexible tube inserted into a vein in the upper arm and threaded until its tip sits in the large vein just above the heart. Drugs given there are diluted instantly by high blood flow, which is why PICCs are used for chemotherapy, long antibiotic courses and IV nutrition that would damage small arm veins.

  • Does having a PICC line put in hurt?

    Very little. The skin is numbed with local anaesthetic, and most people feel pressure rather than pain as the catheter is threaded - the veins themselves have few pain nerves. The whole appointment takes 30–60 minutes and you go home the same day. The site can ache mildly for a day or two afterwards.

  • How long can a PICC line stay in?

    Weeks to several months - commonly the full length of a chemotherapy or antibiotic course. With weekly flushes and dressing changes a well-functioning PICC can safely remain for six months or more.

  • Can I shower, work and exercise with a PICC line?

    Mostly, yes. Showering is fine with a waterproof sleeve or cover over the dressing; baths and swimming are out because soaking the site risks infection. Desk work, walking, cooking and driving are all normal. Avoid heavy lifting and repetitive strain with the line arm, which can irritate the vein or shift the catheter.

  • How much does a private PICC line cost in the UK?

    Insertion typically costs £450–£900, or £550–£1,000 with ECG tip confirmation. Ongoing care adds £60–£120 per weekly clinic visit for flushes and dressing changes (£90–£160 at home), and removal costs £100–£250.

  • What are the warning signs of a PICC line problem?

    Three matter most: fever or shaking chills, which can mean line infection; a swollen, aching arm, which can mean a clot around the catheter; and a line that has visibly slipped, leaks or will not flush. All three need same-day contact with the line-care team or A&E rather than waiting for the next scheduled visit.

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