Safe Care for Every Newborn and Child, By Fay Allen, Innovation Specialist
Patient safety is close to my heart; it’s fundamentally about preventing unintended harm when people are at their most vulnerable. In my role as an Innovation Specialist, I’m particularly focused on how new technologies can support this mission, especially when it comes to caring for our youngest patients.
Fay Allen, Innovation Specialist, NHS Supply Chain
This year, the World Health Organisation’s theme for World Patient Safety Day is – ‘Safe care for every newborn and every child.‘
This resonates deeply with me. I believe we must not only raise global awareness about safety risks in neonatal and paediatric care but also champion research that can drive meaningful change.
As also mentioned in the recently published Dash Report, patient safety for vulnerable populations like newborns and children can be enhanced by ensuring we accommodate innovative solutions that streamline and expedited diagnostic processes that ensure timely and effective treatment.
Medical Technology Innovation Dynamic Purchasing System
One initiative that I’m proud to support is our Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), which was launched in January 2024. This approach helps ensure that innovative products can reach NHS patients quickly, exactly where they’re needed most.
A compelling example of this innovation in practice is the Genedrive MT-RNR1 ID Kit – a rapid, point-of-care genetic test that uses a simple mouth swab from a newborn to help clinicians select the safest and most appropriate antibiotic treatment for neonatal infections.
Why this is so important
Neonatal infections, particularly bacterial ones, are a major cause of newborn illness and death. Each year, these infections are responsible for over 550,000 neonatal deaths worldwide. Many of these deaths could be prevented through early detection and prompt treatment with the right antibiotics.
In practice, we know that culture-confirmed neonatal infections affect about 1 in every 2,000 deliveries, but many more babies receive antibiotics as a precaution when an infection is suspected.
The challenge of getting the treatment right
The NICE guidelines recommend prompt treatment for suspected early-onset infections, typically with benzylpenicillin and gentamicin. However, there’s a significant patient safety risk that not everyone is aware of.
Some babies have a genetic variant known as MT-RNR1 m.1555A>G. If they receive gentamicin, they face a much higher risk of ototoxicity, which is irreversible hearing loss due to damage in the inner ear. This variant is more common in some ethnic backgrounds:
- 1.81% in East Asian families.
- 0.3% in Sub-Saharan African families.
- Around 0.1% in other populations.
Until recently, genetic testing for this variant took too long to be useful in emergency neonatal care. But the Genedrive test now provides results in just 26 minutes, fast enough to guide immediate treatment decisions.
The 10-year NHS plan supports this accelerated approach, with a focus on implementation of advanced technologies to improve patient safety, allowing for rapid diagnosis and intervention, ultimately safeguarding our youngest patients.
The bigger picture
What does this mean for newborns and families? In short, early identification of this variant can:
- Prevent lifelong deafness and the need for cochlear implants.
- Enable clinicians to tailor antibiotic treatment.
- Improve patient safety and long-term health outcomes.
- Reduce the economic and social costs of hearing loss.
It’s incredible to see how this kind of rapid testing can make such a profound difference not just for a baby’s health, but for their future.
In conclusion, I believe innovations like the Genedrive test are essential tools in our mission to protect every newborn and child. By harnessing the power of technology, we can make sure that patient safety is at the forefront of neonatal care right from the very first moments of life.
Find out more: register for our webinar!
Unlocking the Potential of Breakthrough Diagnostic Tests
- Date: Friday 26 September 2025
- Time: 1pm – 2pm
This session will explore two disruptive point-of-care and pathology technologies launched under the Medical Technology Innovation DPS:
- Genedrive MT-RNR1 – Point-of-care test for neonatal sepsis treatment (NICE HTE6).
- Genedrive CYP2C19 – Genotype testing to optimise stroke patient treatment (NICE DG59).
Who should attend:
Consultants, midwives, nurses, members of the Clinical Procurement Specialist Network (CPSN), and procurement colleagues working in neonates and maternity, stroke and vascular, plastic surgery, or point of care / pathology.
Register today to reserve your spot on the webinar
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to join.
Links section
-
Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)
Streamlining and accelerating access to cutting-edge innovative medical technologies.
-
Patient Safety
The delivery of high quality, safe patient care relies on a resilient supply of high quality, safe products.