Sheffield’s health innovations shortlisted for award

Sheffield health experts have been shortlisted for an award for their innovative technology partnerships.

The Innovation, Improvement and Impact Award recognises the work of health professionals at both Sheffield Children’s Hospital and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.

Sheffield Children’s Hospital and NIHR Devices for Dignity Med Tech Co-operative (which is hosted by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals) lead the award-shortlisted TITCH network (Technology Innovation Transforming Child Health).

TITCH works by understanding the challenges patients and their families face, then working with experts within universities and industry to develop technology-based solutions to people’s problems.

Partnership work in Sheffield making a difference to children around the world

Prof Paul Dimitri, TITCH Clinical Director and Director of Research and Innovation at Sheffield Children’s, said: “We are so pleased to see these partnerships getting recognition.

“The work going on here in Sheffield is making a tangible difference to the lives of children and their families both nationally and internationally.

“The success of the projects is down to the strong partnerships we’ve built. We have strong partnerships here in Sheffield across health, academia and industry. We also work closely with health experts around the country. By working together, and taking an innovative approach to the challenges people face, we are able to make a very real difference.”

Professor Wendy Tindale, Clinical Director of the NIHR Devices for Dignity Med Tech Co-operative (D4D) and Director of Innovation at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Technology has the power to radically transform the lives of millions of young children affected by long-term health conditions. Yet historically bringing transformative technologies to the NHS has been challenging.

“The TITCH Network is taking a lead in working with industry, academia, the NHS, patients and families to identify the priority unmet health needs for children on a national scale, and the quality and scale of collaboration is now expanding dramatically. Being shortlisted for this award is fantastic recognition of this partnership work.”

Funding for monitoring, rehab and prosthetics projects

In 2016, TITCH worked in partnership with the Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network to secure a £4.2 million NHS England Small Business Research Initiative for Healthcare competition focusing on the development of remote monitoring and rehabilitation technologies for children, with 25 new technology projects set up to support this.

The TITCH network has also supported an exciting new D4D-led programme in Child Prosthetics. This was funded through a £750,000 investment from the Department of Health which enabled us to identify the priority needs in child prosthetics through partnership working and has led to multiple new developments being funded.

Awards shortlist

The award is in the category “Performance Through Partnership” and is organised by the Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network.

The other shortlisted project is also Sheffield-based, the Brunsmeer Awareness Football Mental Health Project by Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust.

The winners will be announced on Wednesday 31 January at the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds.