Top prize for Teesside

Forward thinkers at our University’s Dlab were honoured for their work when they scooped first prize at a prestigious awards ceremony.

Dlab, which is a multi-disciplinary team of designers, researchers and digital specialists based within the Institute of Digital Innovation, won first prize in the Innovation Technology or Device Category at the NHS Bright Ideas Awards 2008.

The accolade was for the development of an improved leg bath to help treat leg ulceration – a common and painful problem which affects over 10,000 people in the UK.

Traditional bathing methods can cause problems due to the limited mobility, general frailness and, in some cases, the obesity of the patient.

But the improved leg bath provides a facility which is both comfortable for the patient and easy to use by community nurses in the patient’s home.

It was developed in collaboration with Maureen Scott, community staff nurse at North Tyneside Primary Care Trust.

More than 250 NHS representatives were at the awards to witness Dlab’s success.

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