VIP lab tours for child patients is healthcare innovation of the year
A biomedical scientist has scooped top honours in the annual awards for therapists and health scientists for his idea of giving child patients VIP tours of the laboratories where their blood samples are analysed.
Malcolm Robinson, from Western Sussex hospitals NHS foundation trust, came up with the scheme when Harvey Buster Baldwin, then aged six, kept asking questions about the process. Robinson gave him an explanatory tour and arranged for him to have a child-size lab coat, cardboard security pass and goody bag.
Harvey lost his fight with the disease two years later, but by then other children were clamouring for the VIP touch. A charity, Harvey’s Gang, was set up and has organised laboratory tours for more than 200 youngsters in 50 NHS trusts.
Robinson, who told his story in an article for the Guardian Healthcare Professionals Network, was named overall winner of the 2018 Advancing Healthcare awards at a ceremony at Chelsea Harbour, London, as well as winner of the biomedical scientist of the year category.
Other winners of this year’s awards, for which the Guardian was media partner, included Lucy Junni and Lobke Marsden, from Leeds Teaching hospitals NHS trust, who landed the “realising potential through creativity” category for their initiative – also featured previously by the network – in customising radiotherapy masks to make them less intimidating for children.
The Guardian award for innovation in mental health went to the Hertfordshire-based May Contain Nuts theatre company, a drama group formed five years ago to help people living with mental health problems explore their issues and to improve public understanding of such problems.
Parmjit Dhanda, a former Labour MP who now chairs the Allied Health Professions Federation, representing 158,000 health workers, told the awards ceremony that allied health professionals (AHPs) held the key to better partnership working across the NHS. However, their profile as a group was so low that most people would respond with blank stares if asked about them.
“I think most politicians would also be left scratching their heads when asked about the roles of AHPs – and those of healthcare scientists as well,” Dhanda said.
Full list of winners
Overall winner and Health Services Laboratories biomedical scientist of the year – Malcolm Robinson, Western Sussex hospitals NHS trust
Chroma award for realising potential through creativity – Lucy Junni and Lobke Marsden, Leeds Teaching hospitals NHS trust
Faculty of Public Health and Public Health England award for contributions to public health –Janet Cooper, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent partnership NHS trust
Health Education England and National Institute for Health Research award for research champions – Jackie McRae, St George’s University hospitals NHS foundation trust
Macmillan award for leadership and innovation in cancer rehabilitation – Rachel Barlow and Hannah Edwards, NHS Wales and Wales Cancer Network
Institute of Biomedical Science award for inspiring the biomedical workforce of the future – Katie Berger and Ian Davies, University hospitals of North Midlands NHS trust and Staffordshire University
Scottish government award for improving quality: measuring and demonstrating impact – Alison Peebles and Ingrid Bell, Impact Arts
Viapath award for innovation in healthcare science – Jonathan Ashmore and Cormac McGrath, NHS Highlands and Belfast health and social care trust
Welsh government award for prudent healthcare – Catherine Chin, Betsi Cadwaladr, University Health Board
NHS Employers award for outstanding achievement by an apprentice, support worker or technician working alongside an AHP or healthcare scientist – Dan Clay, North Lincolnshire and Goole NHS foundation trust
Northern Ireland award for maximising resources for success – Rachael Moses, Lancashire teaching hospitals NHS foundation trust
Scottish government award for driving improvement, delivering results – Mairiead MacLennan, Lisa Logan and Stephen McGlashan, NHS Fife
Guardian award for innovation in mental health – May Contain Nuts Theatre Company
Chamberlain Dunn Learning award for rising stars – Martha Waters, Manchester University NHS foundation trust; Jade Goddard, Derbyshire community health services NHS foundation trust; Luke Gurney, Frimley health NHS foundation trust; James Duggan, Music Therapy Works; Grace Smith, Hampshire hospitals NHS foundation trust; Richard Cubbons and Ellis Goldspink, both George Eliot hospital NHS trust; Robert Palmer, Cardiff and Vale University health board; Rachael Holmes and Jessica Beacom, both South Eastern health and social care trust; Emma Inman, Charlotte LawsonWright, Catherine Fitch, Christella Lucas, Caroline Swinburne, Charlie Flint, Sophie Mawhinney, Noelle Adames and Alice Nicholas, all Chroma; Catherine Blanchard and Francesca Brown, both Essex partnership University NHS foundation trust
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