Medipex NHS Innovation Awards 2013

Innovative devices and technologies aimed at improving patient health and the efficiency of the NHS were recognised at the 2013 Medipex NHS Innovation Awards.

Two hundred people attended the event which took place last night (Thursday 10 October) at Sheffield’s Tankersley Manor Hotel. The Awards, now in their ninth year, are open to NHS staff members, academics and companies from across the Yorkshire and Humber and East Midlands regions. This year, entrants were asked to demonstrate how they were meeting the government’s Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention (QIPP) initiative to make the NHS more efficient through adoption of new technologies and cost-saving innovations.

Innovation Champion

In addition to the swards detailed below, a sixth Award – Innovation Champion – was chosen by Medipex from among a list of nominations and awarded to Chris Payne from NAViGO Health and Social Care Community Interest Company in Grimsby. Chris has recognised and has been committed to addressing health inequalities facing individuals experiencing severe mental health issues (SMI). He has been able to influence and inspire the current and new generation of practitioners to acknowledge the risks involved with co-morbidity relating to SMI and to support him to reach the goal of piloting and implementing the health and wellbeing agenda in North East Lincolnshire. He has managed to negotiate with primary care providers, general practitioners and specialist consultants to provide direct access and referrals to specialist services thus reducing time for service users to be seen and if necessary receive the correct treatment.

Richard Clark, CEO of Medipex said, “We found that a large number of this year’s finalists had embraced technology to improve patient care and also streamline internal processes and increase efficiency. These are innovations that could be commissioned across other Trusts and organisations, spreading good practice across the NHS. As always, it’s a pleasure for Medipex to run these Awards and all the finalists should be congratulated for their work in improving patient care.”

Medipex would like to thank their 2013 NHS Innovation Awards sponsors: Creative Sheffield, MDTi; Medilink (Yorkshire and the Humber) Ltd; intellectual property agents Urquhart Dykes and Lord LLP; NHS West and South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Commissioning Support Unit. Bartlett Insurance Brokers sponsored the Trophies and Q Hotels the drinks reception.

GP and primary care

This category is for innovations which relate to improvements in primary care including (but not limited to) pathway redesign, a book, a DVD, a training course, redesign of a service, a public health campaign, a new device or incorporation of a new technology into a service.

Category winner

Putting patients with long-term conditions in control: improving quality of care and outcomes

Dr Shahid Ali, Phoenix Medical Practice

Putting patients with long-term health conditions in control by using an internet and smartphone service to connect patient and doctor, allowing personalised care planning and evaluation.

Finalist

Local alcohol/addiction screening & referral tool (LAS&R)

Deborah Cundey and Christopher Wood, Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust

Finalist

FRAX® and NOGG: assessment and management of osteoporotic fracture risk in primary care

Professor Eugene McCloskey, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Finalist

Smartphone app delivers General Practice services

Methven Forbes, Robin Lane Medical Centre

Finalist

MoreLife – Obesity treatment and weight management services

Andrew Marren, MoreLife Ltd

Secondary care

This category is for innovations which relate to adoption of innovation in secondary care including (but are not limited to) incorporation of a novel technology or idea into a service, clinical pathway redesign and cost-savings programmes associated with adoption of innovation.

Category winner

Capsule endoscopy: a non-invasive diagnostic tool for the whole gastrointestinal tract

Dr Mark McAlindon, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Cameras in a pill format – swallowed by the patient – to replace conventional endoscopy techniques. Live images of the gastrointestinal tract are transmitted from the camera to a data recorder and downloaded for viewing, saving clinician time and improving patient comfort.

Finalist

EPAQ-PO: streamlining the pre-operative assessment process

Dr John Andrzejowski, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Finalist

The 3D imaging laboratory: A UK first for Sheffield

Dr. Peter Metherall, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Finalist

Nasogastric tube initial placement safety pack

Thomas Bamford, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust & Bradford Institute for Health Research (BIHR)

Finalist

Standardised MRI diagnostic pathway for Seronegative Spondyloarthropathy (SpA)

Dr Winston Rennie, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Mental health and wellbeing

This category is for innovations which relate to improvements in mental health care including (but not limited to) pathway redesign, a book, a DVD, a training course, redesign of a service, a public health campaign, a new device or incorporation of a new technology into a service.

Category winner

Making sense of adult ADHD

Dr Alinda Gillott and Professor Chris Hollis, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Mixed media resources, including a film and a self-help guide, are use to capture the attention of adults with ADHD. This helps clients understand their condition, engage with treatment and increase their wellbeing – reducing pressure on professional services.

Finalist

Recognising and assessing medical problems in psychiatric settings: The RAMPPS Course

Mike Ackroyd, Health Education Yorkshire and the Humber

Finalist

Self-management of longer term depression: a guide for carers and professionals

Patrick Wood, SUST – Voluntary Action Sheffield

Finalist

Living with Bipolar: a web-based self-management intervention

Dr Nicholas Todd, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Finalist

Love Arts Festival – we ♥ mental health and wellbeing in Leeds

Victoria Betton, Leeds and York Partnership Foundation NHS Trust

Medical devices and diagnostics

This category relates to an idea for, or development of a new medical device, piece of equipment or diagnostic by a member of NHS staff either working as part of a team with other NHS staff members, in collaboration with a company or in collaboration with a University.

Category winner

Development and introduction of non-invasive techniques for the diagnosis of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections in the community

Prof Goura Kudesia and Dr Helena Ellam, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

A non-invasive way of collecting oral fluid and dried blood samples to test for blood-borne viruses (BBV) such as HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in non-healthcare settings, including at home. This will improve uptake of BBV screening in high-risk, hard-to-reach communities.

Finalist

Development of a location-indicating nasogastric tube (LINGT)

Barbara Elliott, University of Hull

Finalist

An innovative orthosis to support patients with neck weakness due to neurological disease

Dr Christopher McDermott, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust & University of Sheffield

Finalist

The Yorkshire microsurgery forcep

Daniel Salah, Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust

Finalist

A shielded syringe holder with lockable volume graduations for nuclear medicine brain studies

Philip Hillel, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Software and telehealth

This category relates to the development or deployment of a new piece of software or a telehealth service by a member of NHS staff either working as part of a team with other NHS staff members, working with a company or in collaboration with a University.

Category winner

Prescribe4: a paediatric prescribing aid

Dr Nigel Humphreys, Sheffield Childrens NHS Foundation Trust

A prescribing aid for the iPad and iPhone to improve the children’s safety by reducing prescribing errors and preventing avoidable harm due to poor legibility of handwritten prescriptions.

Finalist

Interactive videos to enhance benefit for first-time hearing aid users

Melanie Ferguson, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Finalist

Online Consultant Cardiologist support system providing bespoke patient reports

Dr Neil Hobson, Meomed Ltd

Finalist

The world’s first virtual lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) assessment clinic

Professor Paul O’Brien, Elaros 24/7 Ltd

Finalist

Virtual Ward

Dr. Rakesh Patel, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust/University of Leicester