Academic Researchers

Serious, preventable and costly medical errors have been avoided through the use of 11,037 Non-Injectable Arterial Connectors across Yorkshire and the Humber.

A Non-Injectable Arterial Connector (NIC) is a simple medical device, developed by NHS clinicians, which stops medication being accidentally given into the arterial line that is used to monitor patients in Intensive Care Units and operating theatres. It also prevents arterial line infections, eliminates accidental blood spillages during sampling and protects both patients and staff.

The cost of adverse incidents from wrong route drug administration ranges from £57 for a new miss to over £10,000 when incidents occur.

With an average incidence of two times per month, using the NIC could eradicate this error from the NHS, increasing patient safety.