NHS Innovations North
Previous winners
Bright Ideas in Health 2007
Winners in Innovative Technology or Device Category
1st Prize Device: Bone Alignment Device
Trust: Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust
Applicant: Dr Christian Wohlrab
Position: General Practitioner
Description: This easy to use device has been developed to help surgeons achieve correct re-alignment of the bone following healing in the incorrect position after fracture. This type of surgery requires much skill and it usually requires the use of complicated apparatus.
2nd Prize Device: Improved Ultrasound
Trust: Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust
Applicant: Dr Tony Whittingham
Position: Clinical Scientist
Description: This new method of ultrasound imaging and associated apparatus helps to improve the resolution of the deeper parts of ultrasound images of the body, with particular advantages for images of more superficial organs such as the breast, eye, peripheral blood vessels and major organs in neonates. Ultrasound imaging is used in numerous diagnostic procedures because of its non-invasive nature, relatively low cost and lack of exposure of the patient to harmful radiation.
3rd Prize Device: Tracheo-oesophageal Valve Cleaner
Trust: City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Applicant: Mr Peter Samuel
Position: Consultant ENT surgeon
Description: This device allows for effective cleaning of a tracheo-oesophageal valve, thereby reducing the risk of infection which would otherwise lead to valve replacement and stress for the patient. The valves are devices which help patients who have had their voice box removed to speak again.
Device Highly Commended: Epidural Safety
Trust: North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust
Applicant: Dr Khalid Siddiqi
Position: Anaestheiologist
Description: This idea for a device would help to reduce the chance of misadministration of epidural injections during labour or surgery. The epidural injection is injected very close to the lower spinal cord of the patient to numb the lower pelvic region and errors can be fatal.
Device Highly Commended: Mammography Paddle
Trust: Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
Applicant: Suzanne Ramsay
Position: Radiographer
Description: This is an idea for an improved paddle for applying pressure to the breast during screening. This device would improve the patient experience whilst maintaining diagnostic imaging quality.
Device Highly Commended: Positioning of Catheters in Neonates
Trust: Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust
Applicant: Clive Griffiths
Position: Head of Clinical Instrumentation
Description: Babies in the special care unit frequently require a venous catheter for delivering medicine and taking blood samples. The current method is to insert the catheter and then use X-ray imaging to verify the location. The new method uses a novel technique to position the catheter, eliminating the requirement for X-rays and so reduces undue stress and radiation risk to the baby.
Winners in Innovative Service Delivery Category
Joint 1st Prize Service: First Contact: A new model for engaging primary care staff in substance misuse
Trust: South Tyneside Primary Care Trust
Applicant: Dr Morris Gallagher
Position: GP specialist in substance misuse
Description: This service was developed by two GPs with special interests in substance misuse. The model provides extensive training for GPs, practice nurses, pharmacists and receptionists to develop their expertise in managing patients with drug related problems.
Joint 1st Prize Service: Integration of Local Patient Led Organisation with Clinical Service for Patients with Thyroid Cancer
Trust: Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Applicant: Dr Petros Perros
Position: Consultant Endocrinologist
Description: This service was initiated by a patient and personnel working within a specialised thyroid cancer clinic. Together they developed the local charity Butterfly North East, which is one of the first of its kind in the UK and dedicated to providing help and support to fellow patients with thyroid cancer.
3rd Prize Service: Integrated Dermatology Service Across Primary and Secondary Care
Trust: County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Applicant: Dr Keith Freeman
Position: Consultant
Description: This is a service that delivers consultant-led dermatology care wherever is best for the patient. This has resulted in a significant fall in the waiting time for first outpatient appointments and increased patient satisfaction in the service.
Service Highly Commended: Emergency Care Practitioners Working into Custody Suites and Emergency Care Practitioner 'First Contact in Care Homes' Service
Trust: County Durham Primary Care Trust
Applicant: Ann Donnan
Position: Interim Associate Director Service Improvement
Description: Both of these services highlight the benefit of using Emergency Care Practioners - staff from nursing and paramedic backgrounds that have undertaken additional university based training to practice autonomously within several areas including Primary and Urgent Care.
Service Highly Commended: Screening Fallers to Prevent Falls
Trust: Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Applicant: Dr John Davison
Position: Consultant Geriatrician
Description: This is a collaborative working partnership between the Falls and Syncope Services at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) so that older people who fall are identified early, providing a seamless route into the falls prevention services operating in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Service Highly Commended: Raising Aspirations
Trust: County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Applicant: Dr Sarah Pearce
Position: Consultant Physician
Description: This is an innovative set of training materials to encourage young people to work in the NHS by engaging interest in and raising awareness of science. The package has been developed as a booklet, in addition a training course has been designed and is being delivered to teachers to enable them to use the materials with students.
