University of Chester lecturer wins prize for technology research

A senior lecturer in Computing at the University of Chester has won a national health education award for his research work in digital health technologies.

Dr Neil Vaughan, who is based in the Medical Graphics Research Group at Thornton Science Park, has won Digital and Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Innovator of the Year Award at the annual Healthcare Education and Training (HEAT) awards, which are run by Health Education England (HEE).

Dr Vaughan said: “It is excellent to receive another innovation award. This demonstrates the creativity and impact of this high profile leading research, which has formed strong collaborations between NHS, the University of Chester and industry.”

Since 2006 Dr Vaughan has developed many digital health technologies for the NHS. His research focuses on improving the training for surgeons and clinicians by developing state-of-the-art technology for training simulators. These include developing virtual reality training simulators for inserting epidural needles – allowing anaesthetists to train without using actual patients. Research project collaborations have involved over 15 NHS institutions and medical companies, including: Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch NHS Foundation Trust; and the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust (WAST). Dr Vaughan is also a research fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

This year’s winners and finalists came from all corners of the NHS, ranging from students and apprentices to tutors, directors and operational managers as well as doctors, nurses, scientists and specialists in a wide array of fields.

Winners were announced at the Royal College of Physicians in London, at the culmination of NHS Values Week. Values Week seeks to encourage staff to think about and share how they put the values of the NHS into practice, helping to make the NHS the very best place to work.

Professor Nigel John, from the Medical Graphics Team at the University’s Thornton Science Park, added: “It is great news winning the Innovator Award, which demonstrates the high potential and impact in the NHS of the VR and medical graphics projects we are developing.”