- Written by Siona McCallum
- technology reporter
A new device designed to shorten hospital stays for cancer patients has been approved by regulators.
Liberty allows patients to take unsupervised blood tests at home and upload their results.
Users claim this could cut down on unnecessary hospital visits, while clinicians suggest it could improve NHS productivity.
After being trialled at Christie in Manchester, the device will now be rolled out across 12 NHS facilities.
However, Cancer Research UK says it has so far only been tested on a small number of people. The charity says further research is needed to know whether it can be used more widely in cancer treatment.
Cancer treatment requires a series of blood tests, and medical staff monitor multiple health indicators, such as hemoglobin levels and total white blood cell count.
Lynn Thompson, who has been suffering from both ovarian and colorectal cancer since 2017 and is one of the trial patients, said it was a great relief to be able to perform some of the tests at home.
“Honestly, I fell in love with this machine. It was so easy to follow and use,” said the 52-year-old.
She said it made her less tied down to a fixed schedule of hospital visits, which can be physically and mentally exhausting, especially given her fear of needles.
“By the time I got into the blood test room and sat down in the chair, I probably passed out and that had a ripple effect that made me feel really sick for the rest of the day.
“The machine has taken all that away. You just prick your finger and it doesn’t hurt. You just get a little blood, and then it’s hidden. There’s no stress or anxiety.”
The device is about the size of a small printer and can provide blood sample analysis results directly to hospital teams.
Sacha Howell, senior lecturer in medical oncology at the University of Manchester, said moving blood tests from hospitals to the comfort of patients’ homes would not only be more convenient for patients, but also save the NHS. He said there is a possibility.
Recently, The Christie, one of the largest cancer treatment centers of its kind in Europe, deployed phlebotomy units across the region to so-called ‘bring blood closer to home’.
“But that still means we have to staff these units to make sure patients can get their blood tests done,” Dr. Howell said.
“If patients could easily test themselves at home, there would be significant efficiencies.”
The trials conducted at Christie have shown promising results, although the number of patients was small.
Twenty-two patients like Lin are participating in the home study, which is complemented by a regulatory approval trial involving 470 patients.
Cancer Research said this low number meant a degree of caution was needed.
The technology is “still in its infancy and requires further research,” the company said in a statement.
“At this stage, regulatory approval does not indicate efficacy or clinical utility. These issues will need to be resolved in future clinical trials before it can be used more widely,” it added. Ta.
The president of Entia, the company that manufactures the product, is optimistic about the world’s first blood cell counting analyzer that patients can use at home.
“By providing insight into a patient’s health status, this device will allow healthcare professionals to proactively address complications, reducing hospitalizations and treatment interruptions,” said Dr. Toby Basie-Fisher. said.
