Clinical trials of an innovative inflatable pillow designed to make moving intensive care unit (ICU) patients safer, faster, and less labour-intensive for NHS staff have begun in Bath.

Co-developed by researchers at the University of Bath and clinicians at the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust (RUH), and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the Inflatable Prone Repositioning Device – known as the ‘BathMat’ – is a flat balloon-like pillow that can be inflated in sections, and is the first medical device of its kind.

Mass General Brigham researchers have developed a virtual reality (VR) training tool to improve clinicians’ infection control practices, particularly around cleaning shared medical equipment. They piloted the tool at seven U.S. healthcare facilities, and found the immersive module received positive feedback from participants and aims to enhance staff competency and patient safety by making invisible contamination risks visible and engaging learners through interactive simulation.