NHS Scotland innovations nominated for prestigious life sciences award

Three novel NHS healthcare innovations have been shortlisted for a prestigious Scottish Health Innovations Ltd Award for best innovation originating from NHS Scotland.

The winner will be announced at the Scottish Enterprise Life Sciences Annual Dinner at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on 4th February.

Stuart Parks, David Keating and Donald Smith from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde developed an advanced Multifocal Electroretinogram Light Emitting Diode Stimulator will be an extension to the existing Multifocal Imager 3^GEN system and provide essential capability to fortify the multifocal ERG technology.  The LED stimulus under development will provide a custom built multifocal ERG stimulus, will future proof the technology and will remove much of the system to system variability currently seen in the field.

Keith Colver and David Fitzpatrick from the Scottish Ambulance Service worked in conjunction with SHIL and Lightweight Medical to produce an innovative solution to restraining critically ill children in ambulances.  The Ambulance Child Restraint^® (ACR) is the only paediatric restraint capable of fitting all children less than 45 kg which is fully crash tested to CEN compliance levels.

Dr. Jonathon Bannister of NHS Tayside and Dr. Glyn Walsh from Caledonian University have invented Prism Glasses, a new innovation to revolutionise mirror therapy for treatment of phantom limb pain and rehabilitation of patients suffering from limb paralysis following a stroke.

Sandy Allan, Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Health Innovations Ltd, said: “There is no one better placed to devise new and innovative ways to improve patient care than those who deliver it.  These nominations are evidence once again NHS Scotland’s highly inventive and solution orientated staff. 

“This Award is a real chance for us to recognise and reward those at the frontline of the NHS who think innovatively and are constantly looking to improve patient care.  I’m looking forward to the Scottish Life Science awards themselves which will, once again, showcase the innovation and entrepreneurial talent we have here in Scotland.”

The keynote speaker at this year’s dinner will be Dr Rod MacKenzie, senior vice president and head of world wide research for Pfizer Inc.and the event will be attended by industry both national and international, academia, the Scottish Government as well as funding specialists who continue to carefully track the undeniable innovation and dynamism of the sector.

The Scottish Enterprise Annual Life Sciences Dinner attracts more than 750 people from the life sciences community in the UK and abroad to celebrate Scotland’s most innovative companies.