Andrew Barton and colleagues collect the award on stage at the HSJ Patient Safety AwardsA Frimley Health study to make intravenous procedures even safer has scooped a prestigious national award.

Nurse Consultant Andrew Barton, the trust’s lead for intravenous (IV) therapy, won an HSJ Patient Safety Award for piloting the ivWatch – a device that reduces the risk of serious injuries caused by IV medication leaks.

The HSJ Patient Safety Awards recognise outstanding achievements and innovations in improving patient safety in UK healthcare, and Andrew was joined by colleagues when he collected the award for the Patient Safety Pilot Project category at a ceremony in Manchester.

The ivWatch alerts staff at the first sign of IV infiltration and extravasation - when IV fluids or medications leak out of the vein and into surrounding tissue, potentially causing serious injuries.

The device was introduced in 2023 at Frimley Park Hospital where the IVAS unit carries out around 60 infusions every day.

The ivWatch is now being rolled out to other areas of the trust and is due to be adopted by more NHS organisations.

Now in their 15th year, the HSJ Patient Safety Awards shine a spotlight on organisations driving forward patient safety and fostering a culture of continuous improvement across the NHS and independent healthcare providers.

HSJ Editor Alastair McLellan said: “The HSJ Patient Safety Awards are a vital platform for celebrating the efforts of healthcare staff who continually strive to reduce risk and protect patients. This year’s winners have shown remarkable innovation, resilience, and commitment to improving outcomes for patients, and they should be incredibly proud of their achievements.”

For more information about the HSJ Patient Safety Awards and the full list of winners, visit: https://awards.patientsafetycongress.co.uk