Operating largely behind the scenes in theatres, Clinical Perfusionists play a vital but often unseen role in lifesaving care. Responsible for managing advanced life‑support technologies such as the heart‑lung machine, they maintain a patient’s circulation and oxygenation during complex cardiac, pulmonary, and transplant procedures. The team also leads on ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), providing temporary heart‑and‑lung support for the most critically ill patients.

Shaping Change continues to support the Theatres team in delivering its response to a formal review, which set out 66 recommendations for improvement. This is a long‑term piece of work, and at the six‑month point, 35% of the recommendations have already been completed.

Sarah Buckingham, Ward Manager in Medicine at Llandough, noticed that glove wearing had become an automatic response for almost every task, even those involving no contact with bodily fluids. When she spotted the Gloves Off campaign at CAV UHB, she was inspired to implement the project in her department and see the difference it could make. 

We’re proud to share a short video featuring one of our recent graduates, Keiran, from the Improvement Practitioner Course, who turned a challenge into a meaningful change.

Many individuals struggle with the debilitating effects of trauma, with some self-medicating with opioids to numb emotional pain. While opioids may provide temporary relief, they can lead to addiction and further complications. Buvidal, a form of opioid substitution therapy, offers a promising new approach to treatment for opiate dependence.

The team driving a campaign to eliminate unnecessary glove use across Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and beyond has received national recognition. On Friday 20 June, members of the Critical Care and Shaping Change teams received an NHS Wales Sustainability Award at a ceremony held at the Swansea Arena.

Imagine the vulnerability of leaving a hospital setting, only to face the complexities of community life feeling unprepared. This is a reality many have experienced. However, the 'Prep 4 Discharge' (P4D) programme is changing that narrative. Students at the Recovery and Wellbeing College are now stepping into their communities with confidence and preparedness, witnessing life-altering outcomes. Shaping Change sought to understand the heart of this initiative, highlighting the powerful change being driven by colleagues within CAVUHB.

The Gloves Off campaign, initiated in Wales by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (CAV UHB), addresses the critical issue of excessive glove usage in NHS Wales. This initiative aims to reduce plastic waste and carbon emissions while promoting better hand hygiene and patient care. The project has gained significant traction, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the CAVUHB Shaping Change team, the Critical Care Directorate, and the NHS Executive.

Cardiff and Vale’s Heart Failure service at UHW faced a significant challenge: the single inpatient HF Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) was unable to meet the increasing demand for care. Considerable pressure on the hospital clinic and the small number of staff led to delays in patient care and poor outcomes. Shaping Change and Value in Health sought out ways to reshape the service in order to deliver value for patients using it’s current resources.

IQ Endoscopes are moving forward to Phase Three of the Endoscopy Challenge, with a budget of £260k for enhanced testing of their prototype. The challenge is funded by the CCR Challenge Fund and led by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s (CAV UHB) Shaping Change team.

The Emergency Department (ED) at University Hospital Wales is a bustling hub of activity, handling approximately 450 patients daily. Recent changes, including increased patient volume, staff turnover, and footprint moves, had highlighted inefficiencies in their stock management processes. Shaping Change stepped into support the team in addressing the problem.

Ward C4 Stroke is making significant strides toward earning the Bronze Award through the Ward Accreditation and Improvement Programme—a key initiative within the Health Board aimed at embedding excellence, eradicating avoidable harm and cultivating a supportive and high-performing culture within our teams.

Q Exchange offers Q members the chance to develop project ideas and submit bids for up to £40,000 of funding. This year, Cardiff and Vale UHB’s Value Team have been awarded funding for their project.

We're thrilled to announce that two fantastic projects spearheaded by teams within Cardiff and Vale UHB's Shaping Change initiative have been shortlisted for the prestigious Q Exchange funding programme!

Emma Powderhill is the Ward Manager for Cedar Ward at University Hospital Llandough. She has recently completed 200 Minutes Back, an improvement programme created by Shaping Change.