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A team of Liverpool eye specialists is in the running for a prize that could see thier idea adopted throughout the National Health Service.
Staff from the Ophthalmology department at Aintree University Hospital have developed a new diagnostic service in a bid to challenge required follow-up and monitoring of disease progression in age related macular degeneration (AMD), which accounts for almost 50 per cent of those registered blind or partially sighted in the UK.
It has now been shortlisted in the Improved Diagnostic Investigation Category in the NHS Innovation Challenge Prizes, which aims to recognise and reward ideas that tackle some of the most challenging areas in healthcare.
The clinic was set up by Richard Hancock, Lead Ophthalmic Photographer, Maria Dengler-Harles, Lead Optometrist and Mr David Clark, Consultant Ophthalmologist.
Richard Hancock said: “The clinic is the first of its kind in the country and is innovative because patients are being assessed by ophthalmic photographers following their first post treatment appointment, without doctor involvement.”
There are an estimated 25,000 new cases of treatable AMD in UK every year and its prevalence is increasing in line with an ageing population.
Lucentis is the first licensed drug to stabilise and potentially improve vision and is administered by injection directly into the eye ball. AMD occurs when fragile new blood vessels grow underneath the retina, leaking fluid and blood into the retinal tissues.
The drug inhibits growth of these new vessels. By performing scans of the retina it is possible to assess whether the patient is stable or requires further injections.
Richard said: “We treat and monitor nearly 1,500 patients with AMD. Demand for the service has grown significantly so we introduced ophthalmic photographer led clinics, which eased the burden on doctors. There is always an ophthalmologist available in clinic if a particular patient requires a second opinion.”
After being shortlisted from more than 40 entries, the team from Aintree headed to London for a Dragon’s Den-style panel interview in July with four leading NHS innovators and one non-NHS Chief Executive (the CEO of Pret A Manger).
Richard added: “It was a nerve-wracking experience but we are proud of what we have achieved at Aintree and if we’re able to share that knowledge with a wider audience it will hopefully benefit patients across the country.”
Prize money of up to £50,000 is up for grabs, which will be used for further development of the service, increasing the number of clinics and investing in new imaging equipment. The winners will be announced in September.
For more information, visit www.challengeprizes.institute.nhs.uk
