23rd July 2009
Luton and Dunstable NHS Foundation Trust has launched the UK's first Patient Admittance Pack to help cut healthcare associated infection rates (HCAI).
The Pack recently won the prestigious 2009 Innovation Competition for the East of England NHS in the category of Infection Control.
The project was developed by the Clinical Engineering department with support from the Infection Control team, the Paediatric department and medical device manufacturers, Welch Allyn and Masimo UK.
Included within the pack is a single use FlexiportTM blood pressure (BP) cuff from Welch Allyn, leading manufacturer of frontline medical products and solutions. A clinical study has found that 45%1 of BP cuffs remain contaminated even after cleaning, increasing the infection risk of essential monitoring equipment. Unlike reuseable cuffs, the single use FlexiportTM cuff does not move from one patient to the next, reducing the chance of cross contamination and the need for sanitisation.
The FlexiPortTM cuff has a universal connection point which can fit any one-tube or two-tube blood pressure device, allowing the patient to move around the hospital with the cuff. Providing one cuff per patient also ensures that the correct size is always used helping to provide accurate test results.
Brian Clancy, Clinical Engineering Manager said "HCAIs are a major burden for the NHS and require novel solutions; advancements such as this demonstrate the importance of innovative equipment and the commitment of Luton and Dunstable to reducing infection rates".
The packs are gradually being introduced throughout the hospital and are already in full use in the paediatric department. The Luton and Dunstable NHS Foundation Trust has now completely standardised to the FlexiportTM cuff throughout the entire hospital.
For further information on FlexiPortTM Blood Pressure Cuffs or any other Welch Allyn product, please contact Welch Allyn on 0207 365 6780, or visit www.welchallyn.com/flexiport.
References:
1. Base-Smith (1996) Nondisposable sphygmomanometer cuffs harbour frequent bacterial colonisation and significant contamination by organic and inorganic matter.
AANA Journal 64(2): 141-145
