Innovative children’s device invented by NHS nurses to help with lung conditions now available through NHS Supply Chain

An innovative respiratory device that offers a more sustainable, cost-effective and fun child-friendly solution to traditional methods of delivering Bubble PEP for chest physiotherapy is now available through NHS Supply Chain.

Yasmin Hussaini, Jane White and Naomi Parsons, part of the Cystic Fibrosis Team across South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, created ‘HydroBubble’ after working with Mark Moran MBE, Chief Executive of Hydrate for Health to develop its existing hydrant hands-free water bottle into a fun, reusable bubble-blowing machine designed to be child friendly and fun for kids doing chest physiotherapy.

Bubble PEP is a technique used to help adults or children who have a build-up of phlegm (secretions) in their lungs and struggle to clear them.

The traditional Bubble PEP device consists of a bottle and tubing. It is complex to clean and challenging for our younger patients to use without the aid of an adult. It also creates a huge amount of plastic waste on our wards, as the device needs to be changed weekly.

We are excited to introduce HydroBubble to NHS Supply Chain. The device, which our child patients use twice daily for chest physiotherapy and think is great fun, can be conveniently used indoors, outdoors or on the go.

It can also be used by adults and children who suffer with extra secretions, as well as people who have been diagnosed with a chronic lung condition such as COPD and Bronchiectasis.

Yasmin Hussaini

Following its launch across Coventry and Warwickshire in April 2024, HydroBubble has received positive feedback from families who are delighted with the device, including Jane’s own daughter.

My daughter was recently unwell in hospital with a bad chest and difficulty in clearing her secretions. She was very unwell with this and requiring oxygen to treat. She continued to deteriorate and we were getting quite concerned.

Then the lovely Physiotherapist recommended we start using HydroBubble to help her clear her secretions. She instantly cheered up as she loved the look of the bottle and the idea of blowing bubbles with glitter in made her excited.

After only a few sessions I could see a huge difference in her and she was starting to look a lot better. HydroBubble helped her to shift the secretions off her chest and it was literally an instant improvement.

She said her chest didn’t hurt anymore, and after only 24 hours we were then able to leave hospital and continue her recovery at home. She loves it and asks if she can do it all the time. We like having fun with adding glitter and washing up liquid to make even more bubbles and she has no idea she is even doing physiotherapy.

Jane White

HydroBubble helps to keep airways open by producing vibrations in the lungs to help loosen and move secretions. This, in turn, moves secretions up towards the larger airways, where a huff or a cough can clear them. By removing secretions, it reduces the risk of infections. Healthcare professionals advise patients on how much water to put into a HydroBubble and guide them on the correct techniques and frequency of use.

Traditionally, Bubble PEP physiotherapy is administered using a 1-litre bottle of sterile water and suction tubing. However, this method is costly and results in significant waste, with the equipment challenging to store and dispose of.

Clinicians at NHS Supply Chain are passionate about driving forward innovative technology and delivering improvements to patients lives. HydroBubble is a fun and innovative medical device which supports children to self-manage an aspect of care that is vital in helping them maintain healthy lungs.

Community children’s nurses have led the way in working with industry specialists to develop a device that meets the needs of children and families. What an excellent example of health professionals working in collaboration with children and their families alongside healthcare product experts.

It is great to support smaller businesses in bringing innovative products to market. By combining our collective clinical and procurement expertise alongside our combined customer networks will really help to bring this product to life across the NHS.

Michelle Johnson, Clinical Executive Director, NHS Supply Chain

HydroBubble offers an innovative solution to trusts:

• Reusable and sustainable, the bottle is entirely reusable, aligning with the NHS’ commitment to achieving net zero emissions by significantly reducing waste.
• Cost-effective – this is a more affordable alternative to existing PEP devices, ensuring cost savings without compromising quality or effectiveness.
• User-friendly: HydroBubble can be easily held or hung, enhancing patient comfort and safety during therapy sessions.
• Easy to clean and maintain: The device is dishwasher safe and equipped with a flexible tube cleaning brush; HydroBubble simplifies maintenance and ensures optimal hygiene standards.

HydroBubble is now available to purchase from NHS Supply Chain. NHS Supply Chain is the last step in bringing innovative products to market via a legal compliant route and ensuring they are readily available for the whole NHS. To find out more about becoming an innovation supplier, contact innovation@supplychain.nhs.uk.

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About NHS Supply Chain

NHS Supply Chain is part of the NHS family and manage the sourcing, delivery and supply of healthcare products, services and food for NHS trusts and healthcare organisations across England and Wales.

We manage more than 8 million orders per year across more than 129,000 order points and over 16,000 locations. We deliver over 35 million lines of picked goods to the NHS annually and our systems consolidate orders from over 1100 suppliers. This enables us to bring value to our NHS partners, helping them save time and money in removing duplication of overlapping contracts.

NHS Supply Chain aims to leverage the collective buying power of the NHS to drive savings and provide a standardised range of clinically assured, quality products at the best value.

NHS Supply Chain is committed to enabling the NHS to deliver safe and excellent patient care.

Supply Chain Coordination Ltd (SCCL) is the company at the heart of NHS Supply Chain. It provides oversight and operational management for NHS Supply Chain and its service providers. 

SCCL is the legal entity through which NHS Supply Chain undertakes its procurement services and transacts with customers and suppliers.

Whilst its shares are owned by NHS England, SCCL is a separate organisation.