Norfolk healthcare scientist wins top healthcare science award

Simon Dove, from Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, has been named as the top healthcare scientist in England for Innovation in Service Development by the Department of Health’s Chief Scientific Officer at the first ever prestigious CSO Awards, presented by Health Minster, Lord Warner to mark Healthcare Science Week 2005.

His citation, read at the awards ceremony, read:  “Simon Dove is clinical photographer who has developed an innovative method for viewing patient’s clinical photographs, on line, from user’s PCs.  Previously waits of up to 4 weeks for hard copy images to arrive in patient notes were common.  If consultants required pictures for teaching or research, they had to manually sort through slide collections in filing cabinets. 

“This system had to deliver easy access, as well as downloadable, good quality images with faithful colour reproduction.  A major consideration was security in order that patient confidentiality and privacy could be assured and that patient consent levels were properly observed.  Simon also overcame the fears of consultants in using IT to access their images and over the last two years, the system has proved its worth many times over.”  

Simon said:  “I was very privileged and honoured to collect the CSO award in London on behalf of the Medical Illustration department at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, under the 'Innovation of Service Delivery' category.  

“This accolade is a huge boost for medical Illustrators under our new title of Healthcare Scientists.  We are a unique group of skilled individuals and we have an important role to play in the photographic recording of patient's conditions, and images that are crucial in the areas of patient care, teaching, education and research. This award will further enhance the important role we have today in the delivery of a new modern NHS service to patients and the users of our service.”  

Health Minister Lord Warner, said: “I am delighted to present these awards to these key members of the NHS team, who are really making a difference to patients with their groundbreaking work.

“We want all patients in England to have access to a modern NHS. An essential part of innovation is the development and introduction of new technologies, products and processes into healthcare pathways. The Healthcare Scientist workforce is right at the heart of innovation and modernisation in the NHS.

“Healthcare scientists, as well as nurses and doctors, have played a major role in supporting improvements in cancer services, services for people with coronary heart disease through technological advance, innovation and new ways of working.”

The Department of Health’s Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Sue Hill said: “Scientists in health are at the very core of the NHS, offering high quality evidence-based scientific services for hundreds of thousands of people every year. They are also tackling some of our major priorities in health like health like cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke, COPD and other long term conditions, and moving services closer to patients.  I am delighted to recognise, through these awards, the incredible work and achievements of all the nominees, and their teams.”

“There are around 50,000 scientists working in the NHS including the National Blood Service and the Health Protection Agency, more than in many other areas outside academia, including the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.  Many of England's top clinical leaders come from a scientific background, and are helping to shape the healthcare of the future.”

Vivienne Parry, science writer and broadcaster, who compared the awards, said: “Healthcare Scientists are so often in the background, yet without them, everyday care and diagnosis within the NHS that many take for granted would be impossible!”