Amelia Deacon, Associate Medical Science & Commercial Value Liaison, Value & Access, B.Braun Medical Ltd
Picture a nurse racing between patients on a busy hospital ward. Amid constant interruptions, they attempt to prepare a critical IV antibiotic. Behind them, a phone rings. A colleague needs help. A patient's family member has a question. Meanwhile, multiple precise manipulations await – drawing up solutions, measuring doses, labelling syringes. Each distraction increases error risk1,2, yet the medicine must be prepared perfectly.
This scenario unfolds thousands of times daily across the NHS. The statistics are sobering: 237 million medication errors annually3, with ~10.1% of IV administrations involving an error4. For healthcare professionals, this creates impossible tension between urgency and precision. For patients, it represents potential harm. For the system, it means wasted resources.
A perfect storm of challenges compounds the problem. A nursing shortage of 42,000 vacancies strains the workforce5. Complex medication preparation consumes the equivalent of 4,000 nursing full-time equivalents annually6. Environmental contamination with antibiotics endangers staff, with studies detecting eight different antibiotics on preparation surfaces7,8. Needlestick injuries have increased by 50% since 20089, with NHS Resolution reporting 1,947 successful claims totalling £10.8 million over the past decade 10. Meanwhile, with injectable medicines representing £7 billion in annual expenditure11, studies show alarming wastage – up to 71% of some prepared medications discarded unused12.
What if we could break this cycle?
B. Braun's DUPLEX® system offers a compelling alternative. This innovative dual-chamber IV bag keeps drug and diluent separate until activation13, eliminating complex preparation steps14. A study demonstrated that DUPLEX® reduced preparation steps from 18 to 4 and preparation time by 81% compared to traditional methods (4:02 to 0:45 minutes)14. The system generated 81% less waste per dose (14.83g vs. 78.04g) and required 90% fewer products14.
All 102 nurses in the study rated DUPLEX® as "much better" or "better" than traditional methods for preparation safety and ease of use14. The system has the potential to significantly reduce errors in real-world settings where distractions are common15—precisely where conventional preparation methods are most vulnerable to error. With IV therapy error rates dropping from 73% to just 17% with ready-to-use solutions, the safety implications are substantial16.
The benefits extend beyond individual patients. By dramatically reducing preparation time14, DUPLEX® could potentially release thousands of nursing hours back to direct patient care. Environmental contamination risks drop with fewer manipulation steps14. Public confidence in the system was high, with 92.3% of study participants (48/52) expressing confidence in home use14, creating opportunities to improve access to outpatient therapy, potentially freeing up hospital beds.
While acquisition costs exceed traditional methods, economic analysis demonstrates substantial downstream savings. Research shows shifting 50% of IV medication use to ready-to-use products could yield potential annual savings of €4.9 million in a single hospital17. When extrapolated to England's healthcare system, potential annual savings could reach £368.7 million through released nursing time, reduced errors, and decreased waste.
By transforming medication delivery, ready-to-use medicines offer an opportunity to simultaneously improve patient safety, enhance staff wellbeing, and address system sustainability. The solution is available today – the next step is turning evidence into action.