Bright Ideas in Health Awards 2019

**Entries for the 2019 awards is now closed**

 

Health innovators across the North East and North Cumbria urged to enter Bright Ideas in Health Awards

Innovators across the region are being called on to enter the Bright Ideas in Health Awards.

Now in the 16th year, the prestigious awards have become a staple in the region’s healthcare calendar attracting a high calibre of entries from pioneering innovators across a range of areas.

Organised by the Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria (AHSN NENC), the Awards celebrate the forward-thinking healthcare ideas that are being developed to improve patient care across the region.

The Awards are open to all healthcare professionals, including those in Primary and Secondary care, academia, and regional SMEs engaged in healthcare.

This year sees the introduction of new categories meaning there are now eight opportunities to win at the ceremony that will take place in November.

The winners will receive a cash prize and support from innovation experts at the AHSN NENC to progress their ideas.

The eight categories this year are: Development of an Innovative Device or Technology, Digital Innovation in Health and Social Care, Demonstrating an Impact upon Patient Safety, Demonstrating an Impact upon Quality Improvement, Outstanding Research Collaboration with the NHS, Innovation Champion Award, Early Diagnosis and Precision Medicine Award, and Innovation in Education Category.

Dr Nicola Wesley, Deputy Chief Executive at the AHSN NENC, said: “We’ve introduced new categories to reflect the breadth of innovative work taking place across all areas of the healthcare ecosystem in the region.

“Whether it’s a ground-breaking digital technology or a more efficient way to deliver a service, we want to hear about the innovations being developed on our doorstep. There is so much innovation happening within the health and life sciences sector in the North East and North Cumbria and we want to tap into that, celebrate it and help to develop innovations further for the ultimate benefit of patients.

“I’d urge healthcare professionals and teams within the NHS, industry and academia to submit their bright ideas before the deadline on 31st July.”

Last year’s winning ‘ideas’ included a peer-led alternative to traditional mental health services, a Blood Borne Virus (BBV) Test, a ‘pop-up hospital’, a collaborative approach to reducing pressure sores through training and education, and ground-breaking endoscopy research.

A team from South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust picked up the Research Impact: Improving Patient Care award for its research collaboration aimed at developing world-leading, practice-changing endoscopy research.

Claire Livingstone, Research and Development Manager, at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Innovation is vital to the future of our healthcare system and it is something that needs to be encouraged and supported. The Bright Ideas in Health Awards provide the ideal platform to do just this – it celebrates innovators already doing great things and inspires others to push boundaries. The recognition and publicity following our award has been a fantastic motivator in encouraging a culture of innovation across the whole organisation.”

The Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and teams working within the NHS, industry and academia, who have risen to the challenge of telling us how, and where, they believe that the services provided to patients can be improved, either through a technical innovation or through better service delivery.

The competition, depending upon the category, is open to all SMEs, NHS organisations and academic institutions in the North East of England and North Cumbria.

The deadline for entering is 16 August, 2019. To submit a bright idea, visit: https://brightideasinhealth.org.uk/

The winners will be revealed at the Bright Ideas in Health Awards ceremony on Thursday 14th November at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel.

The sponsors for Bright Ideas in Health 2019 include: Centre for Process Innovation, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Sintons LLP, Newcastle University, University of Teesside, Archer IP, Health Education England North East, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, North East Futures University Technical College, NIHR Clinical Research Network NENC, MedConNecT North, NECS, Great North Care Record, HealthCall and Diagnostics North East.