An NHS Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) uses on‑the‑spot antibody testing to reduce unnecessary vaccinations, improve patients care and cut costs
The Friarage Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) provides urgent medical care for both adults and children. The UTC is a well-equipped facility capable of investigating, diagnosing, and treating a wide range of common injuries and illnesses.
In 2024, Joanne Wilson, Advanced Clinical Practitioner, conducted a clinical audit to evaluate whether adult patients presenting to the Friarage UTC were receiving tetanus immunisation in accordance with current national guidance. Tetanus is an acute condition caused by the toxin produced following infection with the bacterium Clostridium tetani. Tetanus spores are commonly found in soil and manure and may enter the body through puncture wounds, burns, or abrasions.
During 2024, the UTC received 911 tetanus vaccines from the pharmacy department. Audit findings identified a significant number of potentially unnecessary vaccinations being administered, with limited or absent documentation regarding patients’ existing tetanus immunisation status.
In response to these findings, Joanne led a project to implement the ProTetanus kit within the UTC. The ProTetanus kit enables clinicians to test for anti-tetanus antibodies, allowing staff to establish a patient’s tetanus immunity status prior to initiating prophylactic treatment. The assay is designed to support clinical decision-making and reduce unnecessary vaccinations where sufficient immunity is already present.
Implementation of the ProTetanus kit aims to ensure that patients with adequate tetanus antibody levels are not subjected to unnecessary vaccination. This approach reduces the risk of infection associated with vaccine administration, minimises the potential for adverse drug reactions, and delivers cost savings for the department.
Prior to implementation within the UTC, the project underwent a comprehensive organisational governance process. A local protocol was developed to support staff through the clinical decision-making process and determine when a ProTetanus assay was clinically indicated. The project was presented to the Trust’s Safer Medications Practice Group to demonstrate improvements in medication safety and to obtain approval for the protocol relating to the management of tetanus-prone wounds. Subsequently, the project was presented to a local Quality and Safety Panel, where approval was granted for implementation to proceed.
In parallel, the Procurement Team completed a Cost Improvement Programme to provide assurance that the initiative would achieve financial savings while enhancing patient care and safety. Each tetanus vaccine administered costs the UTC just under £10, whereas use of the ProTetanus assay is approximately 50% less expensive than administering a vaccine.
Following collaboration across the wider multidisciplinary team, the ProTetanus kit was successfully implemented into routine clinical practice within the UTC. A reduction in vaccine administration was observed immediately following implementation. A re-audit is scheduled to take place six months post-implementation to evaluate the impact of the ProTetanus kit on clinical practice, patient safety, and patient care outcomes.
For more information on ProTetanus or to request an evaluation, please click here ProTetanus – Tetanus Antibody Status Test – Prospect Diagnostics
