Safeguarding our heroes: innovative solutions for interventional lab staff
Chapter 4 of the NHS Long Term Plan outlines strategies to address current workforce pressures and support staff. This focus on improving the environment for frontline NHS staff is universally supported. A key pillar of this reform is to: “Ensure our people have rewarding jobs, work in a positive culture, with opportunities to develop their skills and use state-of-the-art equipment and have support to manage the complex and often stressful nature of delivering healthcare.”
An understaffed, overworked environment with substandard equipment is hardly an attractive prospect for recruiting, retaining, and enhancing a workforce. Moreover, it can adversely affect an individual’s health and wellbeing. The NHS mission “to improve health and wellbeing and people’s experiences of the NHS” must begin with its own staff.
For those working in interventional fluoroscopy labs, there are alarming statistics related to health and wellbeing. Prolonged exposure to radiation increases the risk of various health issues, including cataracts, cancer, cardiovascular disease and genetic defects. This is despite the routine use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as lead aprons and thyroid shields. Wearing these heavy garments often leads to other detrimental health consequences, particularly musculoskeletal problems, not to mention the discomfort and fatigue caused by wearing them for extended periods each day.
Advances in interventional medicine have revolutionised patient outcomes, life expectancy, and quality of life. Procedures such as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) all have the potential to prolong and enhance patients’ lives. However, the same cannot be said for advances in technology to protect lab teams from radiation and musculoskeletal issues.
New technology in the form of the EggNest XR radiation protection system drastically reduces these risks for all staff working in interventional suites. This innovative solution can reduce scatter radiation by up to 97 per cent for everyone in the room and allows the use of lighter lead gowns, thereby reducing the risk of musculoskeletal issues. It does this without interrupting workflow in the lab and allows for easy access to the patient in emergency situations.
Dr Santiago Garcia from The Christ Hospital Health Network, Cincinnati, Ohio, said: “The EggNest protects the entire team while enabling access to the patient during emergencies. It is versatile, meaning it can be used in coronary, peripheral, structural and EP procedures, and is easy to set up!”
Implementing such technology could be a simple yet effective step to reduce the risk to staff in interventional labs. It demonstrates that hospitals and departments are taking action to protect their most precious resources – their people.
The NHS Long Term Plan emphasises the importance of state-of-the-art equipment and supporting staff in managing the complex nature of healthcare delivery. By adopting innovative solutions like the EggNest XR, healthcare providers can align with these goals, creating a safer, more comfortable working environment for staff.
As we continue to push the boundaries of care for patients, it’s crucial that we don’t overlook the wellbeing of the dedicated professionals who make these life-saving procedures possible. By investing in their safety and comfort, we not only fulfil the NHS’s mission but also ensure a sustainable, skilled workforce for the future of healthcare care in the UK.
About the author
Daniel Meakin (Danny) is business unit leader UK for M3 Medical and has a rich 20-year history of partnering with NHS organisations to enhance and develop service capabilities. You can reach Danny here.
About M3 Medical
M3 Medical is a leading distributor of interventional medical devices and is part of Uniphar Medtech, a leading European medical device distributor headquartered in Ireland with a presence across 21 markets.
This news story has been sponsored by the companies concerned and does not represent the views or opinions of RAD Magazine.
