Top innovator Rosemary recognised at Elevation Awards

Rosemary, a Catering Assistant, claimed the South Eastern Trust's Most Innovative Idea of the Year Award with a novel solution to help reset the balance of healthy eating in hospitals by increasing the availability of healthy snacks in hospitals through vending machines.

All 10,000 South Eastern Trust employees – from domestic assistants to surgeons – were challenged in March to put forward innovative ideas to transform healthcare or lead to vital medical breakthroughs as part of Northern Ireland's first-ever Elevation Awards, organised by HSC Innovations.

Rosemary observed that when the hospital canteen is closed members of staff have access to vending machines selling fizzy drinks and chocolate, but there is nowhere to get a healthy snack. Her idea set out to reset the balance by providing healthy alternative options through vending machines in hospitals, outside canteens, outside wards and in A&E waiting rooms.

Dr David Brownlee, Innovation Adviser at HSC Innovations, said: "Our congratulations go to Rosemary, winner of the South Eastern Trust Elevation Award, and all the finalists who were shortlisted for the first ever Elevation Awards. It's vital that we keep coming up with new, exciting and innovative ways to address unmet clinical needs, and to develop solutions that will ultimately improve patient care."

A total of 12 finalists from across all five HSC trusts were chosen by an expert team of health and business specialists for the inaugural awards, which took place at Belfast's La Mon Hotel.

Prof Bernie Hannigan Director of R&D for Health and Social Care and Chief Scientific Advisor to the Department of Health said: "I hope that these new awards will encourage even more of our brilliant staff to take up the innovation challenge. I congratulate everybody on what they have achieved already. Now let's keep the ideas flowing and use them to transform the services we deliver for our community."