Our Vascular Access Team has received national recognition after its VAD ‘Champions of Change’ Programme was selected for poster presentation at the National Infusion and Vascular Access Society (NIVAS) Conference.
The poster, ‘Standardising Excellence in Vascular Access Through Shared Standards, Shared Responsibility and Shared Safety Across Acute and Community Services’, showcased the trust’s innovative approach to improving vascular access care by fostering collaboration, strengthening governance, and promoting consistent, evidence-based practice across both acute and community settings.
Launched in 2023-24 with 50 VAD Champions from acute and community services, the programme has since grown to more than 70 VAD Champions working in clinical areas across the trust. Through education, competency assessment, and governance support, Champions have helped embed best practice and promote consistent standards of care throughout the organisation.
Conquest and Community VAD Champions
Eastbourne and Community VAD Champions
One of the programme’s greatest successes has been bringing together colleagues from acute and community services. By sharing knowledge and supporting each other, teams have strengthened communication, improved continuity of care and developed a shared approach to patient safety.
The programme has contributed to improvements in:
- Staff confidence, knowledge, and clinical practice
- Increased compliance with vascular access policies and standards
- Improved adherence to Aseptic Non-Touch Technique (ANTT)
- Enhanced audit performance and governance oversight
- Improved patient safety, infection prevention, and effective resource management
Importantly, these improvements have helped reduce CVAD-associated MSSA bacteraemia cases from seven in 2022-23 to one in 2025-26, demonstrating the positive impact of consistent, evidence-based vascular care.
Poster presentation at the National Infusion and Vascular Access Society (NIVAS) Conference showcasing East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust’s VAD ‘Champions of Change’ Programme.
Sajini Davidson, Specialist Vascular Access Practitioner and Project Lead, said:
“This has been a passion project since I joined the Vascular Access Team. I have always aspired to develop a programme that promotes excellence in vascular access care and represents the Trust’s commitment to patient safety, quality improvement, and workforce development.”
“Being selected to present at the NIVAS Conference is recognition of the collective efforts of our VAD Champions, Vascular Access Team, ward matrons, organisational leaders, and our external partners at BD. The programme demonstrates how empowering frontline staff through education, leadership, and local ownership can deliver sustainable improvements in patient safety and quality of care. We are particularly proud that the programme has brought together acute and community teams, creating a shared safety culture that supports safer and more consistent vascular access care for our patients.”
National recognition from NIVAS acknowledges not only the achievements of the VAD ‘Champions of Change’ Programme but also the Trust’s culture of continuous improvement and patient safety.
By developing a sustainable network of vascular access champions, our team has demonstrated how local leadership, collaborative working, and evidence-based practice can deliver meaningful and measurable improvements in care. The programme serves as an example of innovation with impact, benefiting both patients and staff across the organisation and providing a model that can be shared more widely across the NHS.