Paramedic awarded for innovative new idea

A paramedic has been awarded £5,000 to help develop her idea for a new spinal board.

Sally Boor, who is based at Melbourn in Cambridgeshire, won the Innovation Voucher Scheme for her design of a new spinal longboard that aims to provide safer and more effective immobilisation of patients than that offered by current models.

Launched by Health Enterprise East (HEE) and sponsored by Hethel Innovation, this is the first Innovation Voucher Scheme and was open to all member trusts of HEE in the Midlands and East.

The Scheme invited ideas for medical devices, clinical equipment, diagnostic assays, and kits or software applications.

When asked on how she felt on winning the award, Sally Boor said: ‘I was delighted to hear that I’d won the Innovation Vouchers and look forward to working with 20-20 Group, Hethel Innovation and Health Enterprise East to create a prototype.’

Taken from Journal of Paramedic Practice, published 25 April 2013.