Winners announced for HEE’s NHS Innovation Competition 2017

Science Network (Eastern Health Enterprise East (HEE), announced the winners of its 2017 NHS Innovation Competition during a presentation held at Sturmer Hall, Essex, September, hosted by science writer and broadcaster, Vivienne Parry OBE. Now in its 11th year, the competition challenges NHS staff and small/medium size businesses across the East of England, East Midlands and London to come forward with innovative ideas for products and services that address unmet needs in the NHS and improve patient services.

The winners shared in a prize fund of £18,000, with also an award, for a clinical entrepreneur or team whose innovative idea is already making a positive impact in the NHS and on people’s lives. Guest Speaker at the ceremony was Dr Steve Feast, Managing Director of the Eastern Academic Health AHSN).

Announced winners were:

Clinical Entrepreneur (sponsored by Eastern AHSN)

Kings Lynn Institute of Patient Safety (KLIPS), a team at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn led by Drs Young and Mariyaselvam devising, developing, promoting and implementing clinically inspired medical innovation

Diabetes (supported by a sponsorship from Roche Diabetes Care Limited)

Joanne Hoare & GooD Pregnancy Network team from Basildon & Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: EGGS (Educating Gestational diabetes Group Sessions) - a new breed of antenatal clinic offering joint education of patients, partners and professionals

Medical Technology

Dr Nawar Al-Zebari & team from University of Cambridge: Novel indwelling urinary catheter device based on smart materials to reduce catheter associated urinary-tract infections

Innovation in Primary Care

Dr Bhavagaya Bakshi & team from Herts Valleys and Luton CCGs: ‘C the Signs’ – a project using technology innovatively to fight cancer through early diagnosis

Service Improvement

Dr Emma Nickerson & team from Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Use of model plastic arm and demonstration videos to teach patients to give their own intravenous antibiotics at home

SME Innovation

Dr Katrina Spranger & team at Oxford Heartbeat Ltd: Making vascular surgeries more accurate and safe with a technology that helps clinicians plan and rehearse stent placements inside blood vessels

Congratulating the winners and thanking the judges and sponsors, Dr Anne Blackwood, Chief Executive at HEE added: “This year we had a fantastic response with an unprecedented number of entries from the NHS, academia and industry, making the job of our judges harder than ever.”