15 winners announced at prestigious West Midlands healthcare awards

The West Midlands Academic Health Science Network (WMAHSN) has revealed the winners of its esteemed Meridian Celebration of Innovation Awards. The 15 winning teams, individuals or projects from across the West Midlands were announced in last night’s (30 March) virtual ceremony, hosted by TV personality Des Coleman.

Since its launch in 2015, the programme has been celebrating individuals and organisations that are revolutionising healthcare across the West Midlands with new ideas, technologies, and initiatives.

This year, winners have been selected for their continuous work in implementing positive changes to patient care and the region’s healthcare economy; in spite of the challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The winners for each category are:

‘Above and Beyond’ Adoption of Innovation Award

• Winner: Implementation of the PIGF test at UHCW to rule out pre-eclampsia
• Highly Commended: SaTH NHS Trust NELA team

Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Management Innovation Award

• Winner: Impulse AF: Improving outcomes for AF patients in the West Midlands

Driving Digital Transformation Innovation Award

• Winner: Dignio Connected Care: Oximetry at Home with Dudley CCG & WMAHSN
• One to Watch: Yokeru
• One to Watch: SnoRelief

Medicines Optimisation and Management Innovation Award

• Winner: A collaborative stakeholder approach to the development of a streamlined medication ordering process

Mental Health Resilience Innovation Award

• Winner: UHB Coronavirus: Your health and well-being
• One to Watch: 24/7 Patient Access Platform for remote monitoring and management of chronic patients by their GP

Meridian Innovation and Improvement Champion Award

• Winner: Gill Phillips – Creator of the ‘Whose Shoes?’ approach which ensures all voices are heard and reduces inequalities
• Winner: Dr Hesham Abdalla – Pioneer of the first healthcare timebank in the UK, supporting over 1,100 members to improve healthcare services
• Winner: Dr Sarb Clare – A national leader in Point of Care Ultrasound who has led and delivered critical education and training in this essential tool
• Winner: Nina Johns – Creator of a remote monitoring solution for expectant mothers and passionate advocate for innovation in maternity
• Winner: Jodie Winfield – Clinical member of the STP Digital Innovation Group and provider of a community-based service to support patients in the Wolverhampton region remain in their home
• Winner: Sarah Sherwood – Implementor of Observation and Escalation of Deteriorating Residents training across 5 CCGS, including over 300 care homes, during the COVID-19 pandemic

MidTECH Award for Best NHS-Developed Medical Technology Innovation

• Winner: The Volunteer Platform: WHAT Edition
• Highly Commended: Patient Connect: Technology based virtual visiting for hospital patients to reduce social isolation
• One to Watch: Fit 4 Surgery

Patient Safety and Improvement Award

• Winner: Embedding Parent Knowledge and Ergonomic Principles in a Paediatric Early Warning System

Workforce Innovation Award

• Winner: Hexitime: the national skill exchange for improving health and care services

Meridian Award – Special Focus on COVID

• Winner: Safe Nasendoscopy assisted procedure (SNAP) by endoscope-i

Tammy Holmes, Head of Innovation Exchange at WMAHSN, said: “We’d like to congratulate all of the winners at this year’s Meridian Celebration of Innovation Awards. We received many fantastic entries and are truly humbled by the work that has been taking place within the region, in what has been an incredibly challenging year.

“The awards ceremony may have been virtual, but we still had a fantastic evening celebrating the successes of those seeking to address challenges and offer tangible improvements to our industry and patient care. I would like to extend a big thank you to the many incredible innovators entering this year’s Awards and to all those who tuned in to celebrate with us.”

Anyone who didn’t have chance to view the awards ceremony on the night can catch up online here: https://www.meridianawards.co.uk/

Meridian Innovation Exchange is a platform open to any individuals or organisations to find healthcare innovations, share ideas, build groups, and grow networks to collaborate and improve healthcare provision across the West Midlands.

The platform helps users showcase their ideas, spread good practice, and bring about change with collaborators from across sectors.