IVAS Service collaboration with Cito team are up for UK national digital healthcare award

27.01.2026

Congratulations to our IVAS Service and colleagues in DDaT, who have been nominated for an HSJ Digital Award, following their recent success as finalists at the NHS Wales Awards in November 2025. 

As part of its submission for the award, the service outlined why it should be considered for the prize. It said: 

“The IV Access Service at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has optimised a critical clinical pathway through a fully integrated digital solution. IV therapy is required by 90% of patients, yet 30% experience access difficulties, causing delays, missed treatments, and preventable harm.  

“Previously, referrals relied on goodwill and manual processes, consuming hours of staff time. The service uses Cito, an in-house digital referral and record system, providing instant submission, real-time triage, and complete device lifecycle tracking. 

“This standardises practice, eliminates inefficiencies, and enables same-day responses, reducing waits from 2.7 days to hours, while releasing 72 hours of clinical time weekly.” 

Read more: Wrexham Maelor Hospital successfully implements an Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (ePMA) system - Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Following a successful pilot, the fully-fledged IV Access Service is now live in Central IHC and there are plans to roll-out the service across the Heath Board. It offers dedicated help and support to overcome challenges in administering IV therapies, and the design and implementation of the Cito referral system has been instrumental in delivering the service. 

Patients who will typically benefit include people who require medicine intravenously (through their veins) for extended periods of time, or who have particularly challenging veins to access. 

Through the service, patients who meet the criteria can be fitted with specialist IV access devices, making it easier to administer medicines.  

It also means there is a reduced risk of failed cannulation attempts, where efforts to use routine vein access procedures don’t work. 

The Awards night takes place at Birmingham’s International Convention Centre (ICC) on Tuesday, May 19. Everyone at the Health Board wishes the service the best of luck on the night.

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