Nasogastric Safety: Past, Present and Future
Nasogastric Tube (NGT) safety has remained one of the most critical challenges in healthcare for over two decades. Since the first Patient Safety Alert (PSA) was issued in 2005, there have been four additional alerts, a comprehensive report by the BAPEN Special Interest Group, and a detailed investigation conducted by the Health Services Safety Investigation Body (HSSIB) in 2020. Despite these efforts, the issue of misplaced NGTs continues to pose a significant patient safety risk, frequently appearing on the list of “Never Events,” underscoring the need for more effective solutions.
Building on ongoing efforts to address this critical issue, the National Nurses Nutrition Group (NNNG) hosted a webinar to share insights and support further improvements in patient safety. The event brought together policy experts, clinicians, and innovators to discuss the latest developments and share strategies for improving NGT safety.
Ensuring patient safety requires collective action, informed decision-making, and the adoption of evidence-based practices. We encourage all healthcare professionals to watch this discussion and join the conversation on improving NGT safety.
The full webinar is now available. Watch the webinar here: Nasogastric Safety: Past, Present, and Future
Key Takeaways:
- Latest Policy Updates - NNNG presented the most recent policy recommendations designed to enhance safety and mitigate risks associated with NGT confirmation. These updates emphasise the importance of standardised practices across healthcare organisations.
- HSSIB Findings - An overview of their investigation into NGT safety issues.
- Innovations - A major issue with traditional NGT confirmation methods is the long wait time patients face before receiving essential nutrition. Delays in feeding can lead to malnutrition, prolonged hospital stays, and increased complications. NGPOD® helps address the challenge of delayed nutrition by providing faster and more accurate confirmation, allowing patients to receive nutrition without unnecessary delays supporting better recovery outcomes. Using fibre-optic sensor technology, the NGPOD® takes the pH test to the distal end of the NG tube inside the patient, reducing the risk of misplacement and improving patient safety. The presentation highlighted practical steps for implementation, as well as the challenges encountered, and the resulting improvements in clinical outcomes.
- Clinicians' Perspectives - The webinar discussed the hurdles faced by clinicians attempting to innovate within the constraints of existing systems. This session fostered a valuable exchange of ideas on how to empower healthcare professionals to adopt safer, evidence-based practices.
Misplaced NGTs represent a preventable risk, yet they continue to affect patient outcomes and healthcare systems worldwide. This webinar served as a platform to not only share knowledge but also spark actionable change.
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NGPod: Stop "Never Events", improve patient recovery and reduce costs
The NGPod handheld devices overcomes many of the risks associated with existing Nasogastric placement confirmation methods.
- No aspiration required
- No interpretation required. Get a clear "Yes/No" answer
- Rapid result [c.15 seconds]
- Reduce delays to patients treatment, hydration and nutrition
- More cost-effective than testing with pH strips
