The Vernatray has individual channels to ensure the correct alignment of syringes and has a separate storage area for ampoules and sharps. It is intended to replace plastic and stainless steel trays where the medication is stored in one single compartment - making it difficult to locate the relevant syringe.

The Vernatray has been created by medical products manufacturer Vernacare In partnership with NHS Innovations South West, who devised the concept with theatre and engineering staff at Poole Hospital and worked with other South West Trusts to produce early prototypes.

Chris Sawyer, Business Development Manager, NHS Innovations South West, said: The Vernatray has been designed by theatre staff for theatre staff. The original idea and thinking came from anaesthetists who identified the need to increase safety by organising medication better. Vernacare has taken their concepts to a new level and created a single-use tray that meets the safety needs of modern healthcare practice.

Said Paula Cockcroft, Senior Product Manager for Vernacare: The Vernatray contains six individual syringe channels, including two large channels for 30ml+ syringes together with a storage area for ampoules and some sharps bins. It makes it easier for theatre staff to locate the relevant equipment and reduces the risk of incorrect medication being administered. Staff find the Surgical Safety Checklist easier to perform, which includes confirmation of the formal inspection of the anaesthetic equipment, medications and patients anaesthetic risk.

In addition, the single-use pulp avoids infection risks associated with re-using plastic and stainless steel receptacles and saves cleaning time as the biodegradable pulp can be simply disposed of in clinical waste or via maceration.

According to the The Association for Perioperative Practice (AFPP), the majority of critical incidents in anaesthesia arise from human error and it reported 128,000 patient safety incidents from surgical specialities from October 2006 to September 2007.

The patented tray has been designed and tested by Vernacare with detailed input from front-line clinicians. Theatre staff from four NHS Trusts and delegates to the AFPP Exhibition helped to evaluate an initial prototype. The design was then modified to reflect their views, and a second prototype tray created in single-use pulp.

Evaluation of the Vernatray has been carried out at three Trusts and one independent hospital, with 99% of clinicians reporting that they found it easier to correctly identify labels on syringes and 100% of respondents stating that the syringes were stable in the tray.

Added Paula Cockcroft: We have listened carefully to the feedback from Operating and Theatre Department Practitioners, Anaesthetic Consultants and Assistants, Theatre Team Leaders and Practice Educators, together with Infection Prevention specialists, and reflected their suggestions in the final design.

To register for free samples of the Vernatray or set up a trial, please email vcorders@vernagroup.com or contact Vernacare on 01204 555999, www.vernacare.co.uk. Please mention The Operating Theatre Journal when contacting Vernacare