Parenteral catheter apparatus

A parenteral catheter apparatus characterised in that it comprises a thin walled catheter having a free end, the catheter closely enclosing a tubular needle having a sharp point, the catheter being mounted to a housing having a first end and a second end, the needle and catheter being longitudinally moveable relative to one another between a first position at which the needle extends from the catheter so that the sharp point is exposed and a second position at which the sharp point is within the catheter, the needle remaining in a fluid pathway of the parenteral catheter apparatus at all times between the first and second positions, the sharp point of the needle being arranged to pierce tissue when the catheter and the needle are in their relative first position, and the needle being connected or arranged to be connected to a tubular member arranged to be connected to a fluid container so that, in use, when the catheter and the needle are in their relative second position, parenteral fluid flows in order from the container into the tubular member, into the needle and into the catheter or fluid flows in the reverse direction in order into the catheter, into the needle, into the tubular member and then into the container.