A painless new form of blood sampling for people with learning disabilities pioneered by University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) has been honoured as a regional champion in the first ever NHS Excellence Awards.
The awards scheme is run by and for the NHS, shining a light on local projects and teams that are making a real difference to patients and communities, delivering on the ambitions of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan and inspiring others to adopt innovative approaches.
UHMBT has won the regional Quality Improvement Award and will represent the North West of England in the national final of the NHS Excellence Awards.
The North West champions, including UHMBT, have been recognised by regional panels for their innovative and collaborative work in their local areas, highlighting digital projects, quality improvement initiatives and examples of excellent leadership.
Instigated by Karen Perkins, Principal Clinical Scientist for UHMBT, Touch‑Activated Phlebotomy (TAP) capillary sampling offers patients a pain-free alternative to traditional blood testing.
The TAP device sticks to the patient’s upper arm and uses a gentle vacuum to draw a small capillary blood sample using painless microneedles. This simple, non‑invasive method enables patients to have essential blood tests quickly, comfortably and in settings that suit them, including clinics, GP surgeries or their own homes. As the first NHS Trust in the country to adopt upper arm capillary sampling specifically for people with learning disabilities and needle phobia, UHMBT is reshaping what equitable diagnostic access looks like.
Karen said: “We are deeply honoured that our work has been recognised with the regional NHS Excellence Award for Quality Improvement.
“What matters most is that this recognition helps raise awareness of a genuinely compassionate, painless and effective way of taking blood samples for people with learning disabilities and needle phobia, who have too often been excluded from routine care.
“Knowing that this approach is already transforming experiences for patients and families, and may now be adopted more widely, makes this award incredibly special.”
Karen describes the technology as “a safe, effective alternative for patients who can’t tolerate venepuncture” and emphasises its role in providing “quick, comfortable and safe” tests patients need. One parent of a child with learning disabilities said simply: “It was all traumatic until capillary sampling.”
The innovation also supports the NHS CORE20PLUS5 ambition to remove barriers to care for underserved populations. Since April 2025, UHMBT has supported nearly 80 patients who previously could not tolerate venepuncture, achieving successful blood collection in almost every case. In a focused pilot of 19 individuals with a history of repeated failed blood tests, all but one provided usable samples, resulting in critical diagnoses such as hypothyroidism and diabetes that had gone undetected for years.
The transformation in patient experience is profound. Abi, aged 15 with Down’s Syndrome, requires regular thyroid monitoring. Her mother described the years before TAP as filled with “hours we spent trying social stories, practising on dolls and desensitising her.” Despite all this, blood tests remained traumatic. After TAP, the change was dramatic: “Abi has talked about TAP saying it was ‘great fun’ and has proudly shown her arm to her friends.” Abi now looks forward to her health checks, something her family “never thought possible.”
The initiative’s impact is now extending nationally. Six NHS Trusts have requested UHMBT’s data and The Association for Laboratory Medicine (LabMedUK) has established a national special interest group to develop best‑practice guidance. UHMBT is leading what Karen calls “a generational change in how we deliver blood sciences.”
Louise Shepherd, NHS England North West Regional Director, said: “Choosing just 10 teams and individuals out of 394 brilliant entries was incredibly difficult as the calibre was so high.
“Those nominated for an award highlight the amazing work and dedication of our staff, organisations and charities across the North West; they go above and beyond for our patients. Our Regional Champions will now go forward and represent our region and I wish them all the best of luck in the national judging stage. I will be rooting for them on the day.”
The regional champions from across England will now form the shortlist from which national winners will be selected. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at NHS Confed Expo in Manchester in June 2026.
Read more about the TAP initiative at UHMBT on the intranet.
Watch a video on the TAP initiative on this link.
You can read more about the awards scheme on the NHS England website on this link.