ivWatch, the IV safety company, announced that its continuous IV site monitoring system has been selected for inclusion in the NHS Supply Chain Innovation Products pathway. While inclusion in national procurement pathways can take years, ivWatch progressed through the Innovation Products review process on an expedited basis, enabling NHS organisations across the United Kingdom to access its advanced technology through a compliant and streamlined procurement route.
The Innovation Products Pathway makes it easier for NHS Trusts to adopt clinically proven technologies that solve persistent patient safety problems. With ivWatch now approved on this pathway, NHS Trusts have a ready-to-implement solution to proactively address IV infiltration and extravasation – complications that result in preventable harm, claims exposure, and treatment delays. Trusts evaluating strategies to reduce IV-related harm no longer need to navigate procurement barriers to implement continuous monitoring. This sole award of ivWatch to the NHSSC framework marks a key milestone in a national strategic initiative to accelerate access to peripheral IV site monitoring technology for safer care across NHS England.
ivWatch provides continuous, non-invasive monitoring of tissue adjacent to a peripheral IV insertion site. Using patented optical sensing and a predictive algorithm, the system is designed to detect the earliest signs of IV infiltration and extravasation – complications where IV fluids leak into surrounding tissue and can lead to pain, tissue damage, delayed treatment, and, in severe cases, long-term harm. Early detection helps clinicians intervene sooner, reducing the risk of injury, improving outcomes, and lowering avoidable costs to the hospital.
Maya Aquino-Guerrero, Patient Safety Champion at NHS Supply Chain and NIVAS Board Member, said, "In my ongoing efforts to elevate patient safety standards across the NHS, I've seen firsthand how early detection technologies like ivWatch can transform IV care. Extravasation injuries are not only painful, but often avoidable with timely intervention. ivWatch's ability to provide continuous, real-time monitoring empowers clinicians to act quickly, preventing harm and reducing costly complications. This technology embodies the kind of innovation we need to protect patients and ensure the best use of NHS resources."
