Vygon collaboration with Royal Devon and Exeter shortlisted for national innovation award 

A collaboration between Vygon and the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust to help patients stay at home whilst they receive treatment has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

The Trust initiative, which led to the development of the new Bionector TKO SAS, is a finalist in the Acute Sector Innovation category of the Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards.

The next stage is for the Trust and Vygon to present more details about the new product and its positive impact for patients and healthcare providers to a panel of judges in October.  The winning entry will then be announced at the awards dinner in London in November.

The project is the brainchild of Vicki Shawyer, Senior Vascular Access Nurse Specialist at the Royal Devon and Exeter. She was convinced that helping patients self-administer their antibiotic therapy could avoid hospital visits.

Vicki realised that if the patients could have an extension attached to their IV line they could receive the medication at home.

After initial experiments with other products proved unsuitable, Vicki approached Vygon and asked if they could design an extension line with a needle-freeconnector attached that was just the right length.

The result was the 27cm-long Bionector TKO self administration set (SAS). After a successful trial at the Royal Devon and Exeter, the product is now available commercially and is being used by Trusts up and down the UK to administer IV antibiotics at home saving hospital time, freeing up beds and improving the patient experience.

“Vicki had a vision and was determined to make it work,” explained Luke Rawlinson, Business Development Manager at Vygon.  “We were delighted to be able to help and Bionector TKO SAS is now being used by Trusts and OPAT (Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy) teams across the UK.

“The clear feedback from Vicki and other clinicians since is that patients much prefer staying at home to have their IV therapy and hospitals are saving money because this approach requires less nursing time and fewer hospital beds.  It really is a innovation to get excited about!”

Ends:  12^th September 2017

Issued by Vygon marketing: For more information contact marketing@vygon.co.uk or call 01793 748830.