New voice recognition technology enhances safety for Stockport surgical teams

Surgical teams at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust have introduced innovative new voice recognition technology which is set to improve patient safety.

The Voice-Care system is being introduced as a pilot scheme, with Stockport NHS the first trust in the country to use it in a surgical setting.

Voice-Care is a hands-free technology which allows surgical teams to complete critical safety checklists simply by talking, eliminating manual paperwork and ensuring 100% compliance with WHO (World Health Organisation) surgical safety standards. It prevents critical steps from being forgotten, reduces the risk of human error, and removes the need for medical staff to record WHO SSC (Surgical Safety Checklist) notes manually.

Voice-Care will support the multidisciplinary team to deliver the WHO SSC, which in-turn should reduce intraoperative ‘Never events’; errors which should not happen and which compromise patient safety. It will also make documentation swifter, easier and more streamlined, saving time for surgical staff to carry out their clinical work.

Dr. Nigel Roberts, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, Associate Divisional Director – Theatres, Critical Care and Anaesthetics, said

“It’s very exciting to be the very first NHS surgical team in the country to use this system. We see this new technology as a real game-changer, and we’re confident it will have a hugely positive effect on ensuring the best possible surgical safety standards in our surgical theatres.”