News
Chronic lung patients across North West benefit from new treatment
10 July 2006
Chronic lung patients across North West benefit from new treatment
A novel remedy for chronic lung patients has taken first prize in an innovation competition ran by TrusTECH® in the North West.
A respiratory team from the Regional Lung Unit at South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust have discovered that by inhaling controlled doses of concentrated saline, patients with bronchiectasis (chronic lung disease) could breathe more easily and were picking up fewer chest infections. Patients breathe in the saline through a nebuliser to help clear the build up of secretions in the chest.
Fiona Kellett, a specialist Physiotherapist who has pioneered the innovation, said: “It’s a simple solution that doesn’t use drugs but has significant benefit. So far we have successfully treated over 250 patients across the North West,”
Dr Rob Niven, lead physician, said: “We are now considering using the approach with people who have other similar conditions, but we will need to produce the saline in much larger quantities. At the moment a local hospital is producing the saline but we now need to look for a pharmaceutical company to do that for us.”
The innovations awards were presented by TrusTECH, the NHS Innovations organisation that recognises and supports innovative ideas from NHS staff in the North West of England. Dr Richard Deed, TrusTECH Innovation Unit Manager, said “Literally hundreds of ideas come from NHS staff each year. Fiona and the team’s idea is typical of the high standard that we receive – it’s safe and cheaper than many other forms of treatment. But most of all, it delivers a better service to the patient.”
Receiving her award, Fiona said “the treatment helps patients to lead a better quality of life and can allow them to return to a normal level of social activity”.
Finalists in the Awards were
- (second place) a novel device to diagnose hearing problems (Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s University Hospitals NHS Trust /University of Manchester)
- (third place) a new approach to treating chronic pain (Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust /The University of Liverpool)
- (highly commended) a software system for recording the care of people who have surgery (Royal Liverpool University Hospitals Trust)
- (highly commended) a computerised storage unit for medicines (Countess of Chester Foundation Trust)
- (highly commended) a self-adhesive drip stand (Merseyside Ambulance Trust)
- (highly commended) a cosmetic stocking that protects the leg from injury in the elderly (Merseyside Ambulance Trust).
End
Photograph:
- Left to right Dr Rob Niven, Fiona Kellett, Barbara Bamford
- Left to right Mr Richard Deed, Fiona Kellett
For further information, contact
- Emma Smith, Communications Officer, TrusTECH.
Tel: 0161 276 6964
Email: emmasmith@trustech.org.uk
- Rachel Blenkinsop, Press and PR Officer, South Manchester University Hospitals NHS TrusTECH
Tel: 0161 291 2030
Email: rachel.blenkinsop@smtr.nhs.uk
Notes for Editors
The North West NHS Innovation Awards is an annual competition managed by TrusTECH
The competition is open to all NHS staff in the North West and people holding honorary NHS contracts. The aims of the competition are to:
- Identify innovations that have the potential to deliver improved healthcare
- Stimulate and encourage a culture that is open and receptive to change by raising the profile of innovation in the NHS
- aise awareness of the importance of innovation management among NHS staff
- rovide innovative NHS staff and departments with recognition for their ideas
Set up in 2002, TrusTECH is an NHS organisation that provides NHS staff in the North West with advice on identifying, protecting, sharing and commercialising healthcare innovations
TrusTECH is based at Manchester Royal Infirmary, with offices in Liverpool and Preston, and is part of the NHS Innovations network (www.innovations.nhs.uk)