Sarah Phillips spoke at the IV Summit 2021, hosted by IVTEAM, on how people, policy, product and process are integrated into practice. You can download the slides, with video links, here.

I know it's exciting to be back at these live, face-to-face events, and I was privileged to speak. It really was a most excellent day, with a brilliant mix of current interest areas (based on IV Team website searches).

The speakers were refreshingly clear and inspiring, sharing how they were saving lives, lines and money. Real doers bring research to the patient and, as ever, raise more questions. The pandemic saw the Wirral try a new cannula that is saving sticks. It seems the pandemic opened the way for innovation: full PPE for every line, which can be reduced by approximately a third, was worth a look. Now it is staying.

Those savings are now national; procurement support is in full swing, but it is not just about the cheapest option. Even after standardising equipment, a quick £100k saving in one hospital creates a lot of choice elsewhere. Change and standardisation are complex, but it is clearly getting there.