Med Tech-related health technology assessments in Wales in January-February 2025

Health Technology Wales (HTW) is a national body working to improve the quality of care in Wales. It is funded by the Welsh Government and hosted within NHS Wales but independent of both. HTW covers medical devices, diagnostics, procedures, psychological therapies, models of care, and social care support, excluding pharmaceuticals.

HTW uses a staged process of assessment by developing three types of documents. The topic exploration report (TER) aimed to assess whether there is enough evidence to proceed with a full appraisal and whether the topic meets the appraisal selection criteria. Based on the TER conclusions, HTW's Assessment Group decides whether to progress this topic further. If yes, the following two documents can be developed: Evidence Appraisal Report (EAR) and Guidance (GUI). Recommendations are not mandatory; the status of HTW guidance is "adopt or justify," meaning that the local health board and other relevant bodies are expected to report on how they have considered the appraisal and guidance. If they have chosen not to adopt HTW guidance, they are asked to outline their rationale and justify their decision.

In January-February 2025, HTW accomplished one full appraisal and published an Evidence Appraisal Report and Guidance on Non-antibiotic antimicrobial anticoagulant catheter locking solutions (TauroLock and Kitelock 4%) for the prevention of catheter-related complications. HTW made the following key conclusions:

• The evidence partially supports the use of non-antibiotic, antimicrobial, anticoagulant catheter-locking solutions for the prevention of catheter-related complications;
• TauroLock should be considered for children receiving home parenteral nutrition, chemotherapy, or stem cell transplantation and for adults receiving home parenteral nutrition or dialysis. TauroLock is associated with fewer catheter-related bloodstream infections than saline or heparin in these populations. Economic modeling suggests that TauroLock is cost-effective in these comparisons and populations;
• The evidence does not support the case for routine adoption of TauroLock-U25.000; 
• There is more significant uncertainty in the evidence for KiteLock 4%, and while it shows promise, the current evidence is insufficient to support routine adoption;
• Data on clinical outcomes and local experience should be further collected when devices are used.

No Medtech-related Topic Exploration Reports (TER) were published in January-February 2025.

See the full details here.

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