• Brand new point of care testing technology at Royal Bolton Hospital is being introduced to enable the Trust to be at the forefront of digital healthcare.
• The new Nova StatStrip glucometer device allows medical staff to test for blood glucose and ketones.
• This new system ensures the same high quality testing is provided whether patients are being cared for in the hospital or community.

Brand new point of care testing technology at Royal Bolton Hospital is being introduced to enable the Trust to be at the forefront of digital healthcare.

The new Nova StatStrip glucometer device allows medical staff to test for blood glucose and ketones.

The project is designed to deliver results directly from the patient’s finger to their electronic patient record in real-time.

The first phase of this system has gone live in the Trust’s Emergency Department, Critical Care Unit and Diabetes Ward, with the roll out continuing across the hospital in the coming days.

Chris Cockcroft, Point of Care Testing Service Lead, said:

This project aims to bring the latest and most innovative systems to Bolton so we can deliver the best testing service possible.

The next phase of the project will be integration of the hospital devices into the electronic patient record.

A similar off-line device is also being used by the Trust’s community teams to support monitoring and treatment decisions in community clinics and the patient’s home. Emma James, Point of Care Testing Section Manager, said:

We have selected a system which uses the same glucose test strips in both hospital and community services.

This new system ensures the same high quality testing is provided whether patients are being cared for in the hospital or community.