19 May Royal Stoke Stroke Team Wins National Award for Thrombosis Prevention Innovation
Innovative use of geko® device and AI in stroke care earns national recognition at Thrombosis UK VTE Awards
In a proud moment for the NHS and stroke care nationwide, the Acute Stroke Team at Royal Stoke University Hospital has taken home a prestigious accolade at the 2025 Thrombosis UK VTE Awards. Recognised for excellence in thrombosis prevention, the team won in the category of “Excellent Quality Improvement Programme that Advanced Practice in Thrombosis Prevention or Management.”
Presented in the esteemed setting of the House of Commons, the Thrombosis UK VTE Awards spotlight leading-edge practices in the prevention and management of venous thromboembolism (VTE) – a leading cause of preventable hospital deaths and long-term complications.
This national award celebrates the Royal Stoke team’s pioneering work to drive forward a culture of clinical innovation. Two standout initiatives led their win:
1. The geko device: A Breakthrough in Stroke-Related VTE Prevention
The team evaluated the geko device, a neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) technology developed by us – Sky Medical Technology Ltd – for stroke patients who could not tolerate traditional compression therapy.
Under the leadership of Dr Indira Natarajan, Clinical Director for Neurosciences, over 1,000 stroke patients were assessed. Results were compelling: while standard Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC) saw a 2.4% VTE rate, those treated with the geko device had zero VTE incidents and no adverse events.
Today, the geko device is in routine use at Royal Stoke and has influenced care in more than 20 NHS stroke units, and growing. Its impact is also under further investigation in a national multi-centre randomized controlled trial (RCT).
2. Harnessing AI for Faster, Smarter Stroke Diagnosis
The team also championed the use of AI decision-support tools to accelerate stroke diagnosis. By reducing the time to analyse brain scans, clinicians can now make faster, more accurate treatment decisions – critical for time-sensitive interventions like thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy.
Leadership That Delivers Impact
Dr Natarajan, who accepted the award on behalf of the team, said:
“We are incredibly proud to be recognised with this prestigious national award. Thrombosis prevention is a critical part of stroke care, and our multidisciplinary team has worked tirelessly to ensure best practices are embedded at every level of patient management. This recognition celebrates the team’s willingness to embrace and challenge the status quo for better patient outcomes.”
Thrombosis UK praised the Royal Stoke team’s achievements for their measurable results, scalability across NHS services, and commitment to clinical excellence.
For more about the geko device, visit www.gekodevices.com.
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