Making Every Venepuncture Count (MEVeC)

Project completed as part of the 2025 Hampshire Hospitals Green Team Competition. 

Project Team Members: 

• Connie Burton, Phlebotomy and Specimen Reception Manager
• Maria Viera, Abbi-Rose Sherwood, Sally Bowie, Phlebotomy Team Leaders
• James Freeburn, Facilities Project Lead
• Simon Preston, Chief Resident Doctor

Setting / Patient Group: Inpatients undergoing routine and urgent blood tests.

Issue: 

Patients were frequently subjected to multiple venepuncture procedures in a single day or on consecutive days, causing discomfort, increased risk of vein damage, and potential complications. This practice also wastes resources, increases staff workload, and contributes to environmental impact. Baseline data showed 5% of patients had two bleeds in a day and 1% had three.

Aim: 

Reduce unnecessary venepuncture by ensuring all outstanding tests are taken during a single procedure and raise awareness of the triple bottom line benefits (clinical, environmental, financial).

Intervention: 

Developed communication materials and rolled out awareness campaign to clinicians and ward staff, encouraging checks of the ICE system for outstanding tests and combining blood draws with cannulation. Monitored data pre- and post-intervention.

Outcomes: 

• Clinical: Post-project data showed a 78.6% reduction in double bleeds and 100% reduction in triple bleeds on the trial ward. Scaled Trustwide, this equates to avoiding approximately 23,340 additional venepuncture procedures per year. Benefits include reduced pain, fewer dressings, and lower risk of vein damage and infection. Potential reduction in needlestick injuries estimated at five fewer incidents annually.
• Environmental: Avoiding 23,340 additional venepuncture procedures could save 8,977 kgCO₂e (equivalent to 21,544 miles driven) and 81,690 liters of water from reduced handwashing. Additional savings possible from reduced low-value test requests.
• Economic: Estimated annual savings of £46,030 from reduced additional bleeds, plus potential savings of £61,325 if low-value tests are reduced. Waste disposal costs also decreased, including £286 from fewer sharps containers.
• Social: Improved patient comfort and satisfaction from fewer venepunctures. Staff wellbeing enhanced through reduced workload and more positive patient interactions. Increased engagement with sustainability initiatives, including interest in reusable tourniquets.

Key Learning: 

Simple, low-cost interventions can deliver significant benefits. Barriers included ICE system limitations. The project forms part of several changes being implemented at the Trust to reduce the impact and costs of low value blood testing. 

Future opportunities include reusable tourniquets, reducing low-value tests, and system changes to highlight repeat requests.