NNUH staff shortlisted for Innovation Awards

Four innovations put forward by staff working at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust have been shortlisted for awards in the 2008 Innovation Competition organised by Health Enterprise East (HEE), the NHS innovation hub for the East of England.

Contenders in the Medical Technology category include an Eye Dropper, devised by Dr Richard Scawn to help patients self-administer eye drops easily, effectively and safely and a child-friendly Blood Glucose Meter created by Beatrice Lyons for use with children suffering from Type 1 diabetes, which is designed to increase child compliance to blood glucose monitoring.

Other shortlisted innovations are: in the Software category, a programme to help surgical training in laparoscopic skills, devised by Mr Usman Jaffer and in the Service Delivery category, Carrie Wingfield’s suggestion for managing cellulitis of the lower limb through a dedicated dermatology clinic.

The 2008 competition was open to staff working in all branches of the NHS throughout the region to put forward ideas for products and services which will benefit patients.

Prizes totalling £20,000 will be presented to winners at a special Awards Dinner being held at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford by GP and presenter Dr Phil Hammond on Wednesday 16th April 2008.

Dr Peter Blenkinsop, HEE Chief Executive, said: “Once again we have been overwhelmed by the number and quality of entries our fourth Annual Innovation Competition has attracted. This year the total number of entries was 85 across the three categories of Medical Technology, Software and Service Delivery, demonstrating the huge creativity and dedication of staff working in the NHS trusts across our region”.

Notes to editors

Health Enterprise East Limited (HEE) is the Enterprise Hub for Healthcare in the East of England, supporting public and private sector healthcare providers. Part of a National Network of NHS Innovations Hubs, HEE provides a broad range of professional IP management services to the NHS Trusts across the East of England (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk) to enable their employees from all disciplines to identify, evaluate and take forward innovations – both products and services – which can benefit their patients.

An annual innovation competition is held each year, inviting entries from NHS Trust staff across the region.

Companies in the healthcare sector can benefit too by having access to a prolific source of new medical technologies developed by NHS staff in response to key unmet needs. HEE also has ready access to clinical expertise in the East of England to speed the development of new products and services. Specifically HEE can advise on clinical evaluation of new medical devices, suggest ways to maximise marketing and identify key opinion leaders to support the adoption of new technologies.

HEE is funded by the Department of Health, Department of Trade & Industry and East of England Development Agency (EEDA)