A COLLABORATION between a Harrogate design firm and a Yorkshire doctor which led to an update of one of medicine's oldest and most traditional devices has won a regional NHS Innovation Award.
Pd-m International Ltd and consultant obstetrician Dr Alexander Oboh were named as the winners in the Devices and Diagnostics category at last week's Medipex 2010 NHS Innovation awards for their work in making major improvements to the obstetric forc
eps, a piece of equipment that has changed little in 150 years.
The firm has worked in collaboration with Dr Oboh, a consultant obstetrician from Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, to redesign the device which is used to assist with difficult deliveries of babies.
The project has been supported by the highly successful Yorkshire Enterprise Fellowship scheme which is funded by Yorkshire Forward and managed by the enterprise development organisation YTKO.
Richard Hall, managing director of Pd-m, said Medipex, the NHS innovation hub for the Yorkshire and Humber region, worked with NHS staff from across Yorkshire to help translate their ideas for improving patient care into reality.
"Medipex introduced us to Dr Oboh and we soon realised the huge benefits his idea would have for mothers and babies".
"Our design, innovation and manufacturing expertise coupled with Dr. Oboh's ideas and clinical expertise led to the development of the product and the filing of a patent to protect it".
"We are proud to have been involved with the project and are delighted to be developing it for general use throughout the NHS and beyond."
Dr Chris Herbert, of Medipex, said: "This is a great example of what a highly creative design company coupled with clinical expertise and a good idea can achieve. I have been really impressed with the dedication, creativity and professionalism that PD-M have brought to this project.
"We are now working with Dr Oboh and Pd-m to help take this project forward commercially so that women and babies around the world can benefit from it".
