Finalists for Region’s Healthcare Innovation Awards Revealed
The North of England’s most promising healthcare innovators have been revealed as the shortlist for the Bright Ideas in Health Awards 2017 is announced.
Now in its 14th year, the coveted awards ceremony celebrates the achievements of NHS staff and healthcare SMEs that are working towards improving patient care in the North East and North Cumbria and beyond through pioneering product or service ideas.
A panel of judges for the region’s ‘must attend’ industry gathering for healthcare professionals have whittled down hundreds of entries to unveil the 21 finalists in this year’s prestigious competition.
Innovations in the running for this year’s awards include a non-invasive test for bladder cancer, a GP direct booking service via NHS 111 and a falls prevention training programme.
The winners from each of the seven categories will be announced at a glittering annual awards ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in November, where winners will receive a cash prize to help develop and commercialise their ideas.
The event is organised by the Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria (AHSN NENC) in partnership with RTC North and the NIHR Clinical Research Network North East and North Cumbria (CRN NENC).
Dr Nicola Wesley, Chief Operations Officer at the AHSN NENC, said: “We are thrilled to be able to reveal the shortlist for the 2017 Bright Ideas in Health Awards. Despite the unprecedented challenges healthcare professionals face today to improve quality, reduce harm, improve access, increase efficiency, eliminate waste and lower costs each of the innovators shortlisted have demonstrated that this is still possible and this is something worth celebrating.”
This year the categories include; Innovative Tec
hnology or Device, Outstanding Industry Collaboration with the NHS, Service Improvement, Patient Safety and Quality Improvement, Primary and Community Care, Most Innovative Education Provider and Research Delivery Impact.
The Research Delivery Impact category is once again sponsored by the CRN NENC this year, shining the spotlight on some of the most pioneering investigative projects taking place in the region.
Nadine Bleasby, Chief Operating Officer at the CRN NENC, said: “The North East and North Cumbria remains the best place in the UK to take part in research – evident by the quality of fantastic entries to the Research Delivery Impact category. It’s inspiring to see such pioneering improvement work taking place on our doorstep by so many talented and forward thinking healthcare professionals.”
Joint organiser, innovation and technology transfer company, RTC North’s Chief Executive Andrew Buckley, said: “This year’s bright ideas, that have already transformed services and enhanced healthcare outcomes, could not have come to fruition were it not for the time and dedication of those passionate finalists and we wish all of them the very best of luck.”
