Finalist

CESCNNA: Cauda Equina Syndrome detection using Convolutional Neural Networks

K. Joshi George , Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences

This project addresses the urgent need for early detection and management of Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES), a condition where the lower spinal nerves are compressed, often due to a herniated disc. Named after the resemblance of the nerves to a horse's tail, CES requires swift surgery to prevent serious consequences like bowel, bladder dysfunction, sexual impairment, and leg pain/weakness. Diagnosis relies on the clinical picture and MRI scans, but increasing demand and radiologist shortages lead to delays, potentially causing significant patient harm and substantial NHS litigation. Our innovation is a machine learning program designed to automatically detect cauda equina compression (CEC) in MRI scans. By rapidly identifying CEC, this tool will reduce diagnostic delays, enabling quicker treatment and minimizing the risk of permanent neurological damage. The expected benefits are twofold: enhanced patient outcomes by preventing irreversible complications, and reduced legal repercussions for the NHS due to delayed CES management.

Finalist

Digital Patient Alert Pathway (DPAP)

Dr Martin Lees, St Bartholomew’s Hospital

Avoidable patient harm and unrecognised patient deterioration needs a solution.
96% of patients own a smartphone. Doctors and nurses piece together clues, often stretched to the limit and miss things, sometimes vital pieces of information. We need to put patients in the healthcare team and help them to help us make better, quicker decisions
We developed a simple App for patients to use on their smartphones. It connects patients to the patient electronic record at Barts Health, allowing the patients to report pain on a scale from 0-10.
Using AI, we prioritise the patients with the greatest need for intervention by the Acute Hospital Pain Team. We are now designing the same digital, patient-triggered pathway to spot the early signs that a patient is getting worse before it turns into something catastrophic and escalating care before it’s too late.

Finalist

Advancing Neurorehabilitation: Wearable Band for Functional Recovery Post Brain Injury

Dr. Paul Bentley, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

A stroke interrupts blood flow to the brain, often causing long-term disability and reduced independence. Rehabilitation is critical for recovery, but due to limited resources, over 60% of patients don’t receive the recommended therapy, and post-discharge support typically ends after six weeks.
To address this, we’ve developed a wearable armband that delivers gentle stimulation to the affected limb, supporting recovery during everyday activities. Earlier research showed that small electrical stimulations could help stroke survivors regain movement. Our new armband makes the therapy more accessible and convenient.
Preliminary tests with stroke survivors showed lasting improvement in movement in their paralysed limbs after using the device. User testing was conducted with 42 survivors, all of whom found the device comfortable and easy to wear. We now aim to test the armband with a larger group of patients and proceed with regulatory approval to make this innovative solution widely available.

Finalist

Augmented Reality Rehabilitation for Parkinson’s Disease

Rory O’Connor, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

People living with Parkinson’s disease often have problems with mobility, with many people reporting that they ‘freeze’ when walking. Rehabilitation can help to manage freezing and is usually provided through regular outpatient treatment. We have developed rehabilitation exercises that are delivered through special glasses that allow people to see normally, but provide additional cues to help mobility, called ‘augmented reality’. We tested these glasses with 30 people living with Parkinson’s who used them at home for 6 weeks. Everyone reported that they enjoyed using the glasses and that their mobility felt better. With funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research, we are now doing a bigger study in four NHS hospitals to enable more people to benefit. The results of this study will allow us to roll out the use of the glasses to more hospitals.

Finalist

Community-Based Point of Care Testing Evaluation for Respiratory Infections: Tailored Implementation

Katie Moss, Northern Care Alliance (hosted network)

This service evaluation pilot for implementing Point of Care Testing (POCT) in acute respiratory infection hubs has revolutionised patient care. By introducing rapid, on-site diagnostic tools, the pilot has successfully identified acute respiratory infections, enabling precise and timely clinical decisions. This advancement has significantly reduced unnecessary antibiotic usage, aligning with evidence-based practices and promoting antimicrobial stewardship. Patients benefit immensely from this innovative approach, experiencing quicker diagnoses, personalised treatment plans, and reduced exposure to potential side effects of antibiotics. The streamlined process also decreases patient waiting times, providing relief and improving overall satisfaction. Moreover, the initiative enhances healthcare efficiency, demonstrating the role of POCT in optimising clinical management. With tailored POCT specialist-led implementation across primary care networks, the pilot sets a benchmark for improving respiratory care, paving the way for broader adoption of advanced diagnostic technologies within general practice and primary care services.
The pilot is live and has been a collaborative project pioneered by secondary care NHS POCT expertise within Greater Manchester, diagnostic industry partners and primary care clinicians.

Finalist

Electronically Connected LFTs for Winter Viruses; Bed Management and Infection Control Tool

Nicky Hollowood, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust

The availability of the Sterilab Combi Antigen Lateral flow Test (LFT) for Flu A/Flu B/ RSV and Covid (along with the development of an electronic smartphone reader by Testcard) presented an opportunity to improve our infection control and bed management provision in the Emergency Department (ED) at HDFT.
Prior to the introduction of this testing, a nasal swab from patients in ED presenting with respiratory viral symptoms was collected and sent to the microbiology department for PCR analysis on the Cepheid/Biofire. The turnaround time (TAT) was approximately 3-4 hours. Bed managers and infection control teams make decisions about patient placement fairly rapidly in ED to avoid bottlenecking and ensure effective patient flow; a TAT of 3-4 hours led to bed managers making patient placement decisions based on clinical judgement alone.
The connected LFT service enabled four results to be generated from one swab in 10 minutes in ED. This led to rapid decision making, freeing up side rooms for infectious patients, reducing the number of unnecessary deep cleans and ensuring ambulance bays were managed more effectively. For patients requiring additional tests (or diagnostic results) samples were sent to microbiology, but for the majority of patients, a simple screening tool to assess the risk of infection in ED has been clinically and cost-effective.
Electronic transfer of the LFT results using the Testcard smartphone to the Electronic Patient Record (EPR) ensures compliance with UKHSA and a robust audit trail for the service. Once established, the smartphone technology can be used to electronically connect other LFTs such as pregnancy, drugs of abuse tests etc; the service has the potential to expand and grow in line with the organisation’s clinical requirements.

Finalist

Once is Enough: Transforming cardiovascular disease secondary prevention via innovative multi-speciality working

Dr Su Ann Tee, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Cardiovascular disease (including myocardial infarction, stroke, transient ischaemic attack and peripheral arterial disease) is a significant cause of UK deaths despite advances in treatment of key risk factors (high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes and smoking) for these conditions. The Gateshead Secondary Prevention Service was formed in September 2023 comprising a team of consultant doctors and pharmacists from cardiology, endocrinology, renal and stroke medicine. We collaboratively assess individual patients’ results and medication to recommend a personalised treatment plan in line with international guidelines for secondary prevention. In its’ first year the Service has supported 570 patients towards achieving lower cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and obtaining swifter access to specialist input, stop-smoking support, and newest medical therapies, compared to previous patients receiving “standard care”. We believe this unique way of supporting people with cardiovascular disease is cost-effective, patient-centred and will reduce their risk of having further cardiovascular events.

Finalist

Ask A Midwife

Sallie Ward, Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board

Ask A Midwife (AAM) is a social media messaging service managed by midwives, which empowers service users to make timely and informed decisions about their maternity care. AAM is coordinated centrally to ensure consistency of delivery and messaging by the Humber and North Yorkshire Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS), and four acute Trusts are now working collaboratively to offer the service via Facebook, Instagram and email.

The service is staffed by Trust midwives who have a dual role in supporting the AAM service on a part-time basis alongside their clinical work.

Providing support for service users via social media breaks down some barriers to communication, makes advice easily accessible, and takes the pressure of non-urgent queries away from the frontline clinical workforce.