Seven healthcare programmes have been recognised in the Meridian Awards at the Park Regis in Birmingham.

Representatives from the West Midlands’ NHS, industry, academia, third sector, charities, care homes and patient population were all recognised and in attendance.

Birmingham Symptom-specific Obstetric Triage System (BSOTS) co-produced in 2013 by Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Birmingham has been awarded the Meridian Award. The award recognises innovators or organisations who have gone above and beyond and who have truly nurtured an innovation adoption culture. BSOTS is a triage system specifically for maternity wards for women who attend for unscheduled appointments designed to save time and improve safety.

MidTECH Award for Best NHS-Developed Innovation was won by Worcestershire Health and Care Trust for its BESTIE Mobile Application. The first of a kind app, designed by a group of local young people in Worcestershire with the support of Worcestershire Health and Care Trust, is to help young people in Worcestershire better manage their mental health needs. It is currently being piloted ahead of a larger rollout later this summer.

Aseptika (Activ8rlives) has been presented with the Digital or Artificial Intelligence Innovation of the Year Award for its Active⁺me patient activation programme. The programme combines group exercise classes, health coaching, peer support, PAM (Patient Activation Measure) monitoring, with Aspetika – Activ8rlives self-care monitoring technology. This allows health and care professionals remote access to patient health and wellbeing data helping to identify deterioration in conditions more quickly than traditional methods of support.

Joint winners of the Patient Safety Awards Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust with an integrated approach of changing cultures in quality governance/patient safety using Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and Birmingham Symptom-specific Obstetric Triage System (BSOTS) co-produced in 2013 by Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Birmingham. Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust led a project to engage clinical and non-clinical staff in a new way of working, specifically targeting an adaption in language, speaking in a positive manner and avoiding a blame culture.

The Adoption of Innovation Award was won by University of Birmingham for the ABC Pathway project. Through integrated management, ABC Pathway provides a strategy, Avoid stroke, Better symptom management, and Cardiovascular and comorbidity risk reduction. It helps to improve awareness and detection and reminds clinicians of the simple decision-making steps for management of patients with atrial fibrillation in a holistic approach.

B13 Technology was awarded the Economic Development Award for contribution in increasing cost efficiency within the healthcare sector. 

Tammy Holmes, head of innovation exchange said: “Congratulations to all of our winners. Year-on-year, the field gets tougher and the work you’re demonstrating in healthcare across the West Midlands is having a vital impact, nationally.

“With so much enthusiasm and hard work – from individuals and organisations across the healthcare economy – we’re honoured to celebrate your achievements with these awards.”