NEWS
Device to help stroke survivors wins Inventor Prize
A device which encourages stroke survivors to engage in rehabilitation exercises through competitive and collaborative training was the overall winner of the Inventor Prize, launched as part of the Industrial Strategy, in order to find Britain’s grassroots and garden shed inventors. Innovation foundation Nesta, supported by
the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), announced the overall winner and two recognition awards, from its 10 shortlisted finalists. The awardees will receive £50,000, £15,000 and £5000 respectively, to help get their product to market. The overall winner was Guilem Singla Buxarrais and Dimitris Athanasiou, co-founders
of Neurofenix, who invented the Neuroball, which allows stroke survivors to perform exercises to improve dexterity in the hand and arm. The Neuroball connects to an online platform, allowing users to play games of increasing complexity throughout the recovery process.
Guilem Singla Buxarrais of Neurofenix,
said: “We believe our technology will have applications beyond stroke. There are other conditions that demand physical and cognitive rehabilitation such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, hand injury and osteoarthrosis that could benefit from the Neuroball.”
Medtech company receives
second Queen’s Award Brandon Medical, a Yorkshire-based medtech company has been awarded the most coveted accolade in British business – for the second time – in recognition of its export fuelled strategic growth. The Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Ed Anderson, presented the Queens’s Award for International Trade to Brandon Medical which designs, manufactures, installs and maintains vital medical equipment and systems for operating theatres and critical care units.
The milestone presentation marks the success of a major drive by the multi-award- winning Leeds company to develop new overseas markets, particularly in Asia-Pacific countries. This has delivered am increase in exports – now accounting for more than 50% of sales – that is spearheading an ambitious
growth strategy which aims to increase turnover from £6 million to £21 m by 2021. Brandon Medical executive chairman, Graeme Hall, said: “We aim to remain strong in the UK market because this is where our knowledge base is, but exports are the future of the business and crucial to achieving our growth targets. “We have built a strong export team and an expanding network of distributors and are developing new product ranges specifically for our export markets. It’s a strategy that is working and we are delighted that our success has been recognised with a Queen’s Award.” The company, which previously scooped a Queens’s Award for Innovation in 2011, has not only diversified its produce range but has developed an extensive network of distributors particularly in the major Asian Pacific markets.
GPs can expect to be sued four times during a 40 year career, though very few are likely to be found negligent, the Medical Defence Union (MDU) has revealed, as it called for a solution to the compensation crisis. Speaking at a Westminster Health
Forum seminar on the future for general practice in England, MDU chief executive, Dr Christine Tomkins explained that while over 80% of cases against MDU medical members do not succeed, the fear of being sued and the cost of professional indemnity is affecting GP morale. Dr Tomkins commented: “Claims against GPs have doubled in frequency and cost over the last seven years. Claims over £10 million are no longer unthinkable, and GPs can now expect a claim every 10 years.
“Last year in 83% of the medical claims against MDU members, the patient had not been negligently damaged. This is a bad outcome for everyone – emotionally and financially. The legal process is very stressful for all involved and a heavy burden to expect GPs to carry. Even if damages are not paid, we need to investigate cases thoroughly and the process is still costly. “The worsening claims environment does not mean there is any deterioration in clinical standards. Quite the opposite: the cause lies in the legal environment, which doctors can’t control. “The MDU has been campaigning for a change in the law which would allow defendants such as the MDU to buy NHS and social care packages to meet patient needs. Currently Section S2(4)of the Law Reform (Personal Injuries) Act 1948 requires all personal injury defendants to disregard the availability of NHS care when paying compensation. This should be repealed, boosting NHS funds for the benefit of all patients.
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WWW.CLINICALSERVICESJOURNAL.COM NOVEMBER 2018
GPs can expect to be sued once every 10 years
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