Winners 2016

The Wound Assessment and Diagnostics Award

Winner:  Massimo Rivolo, Tissue Viability Nurse Consultant, Healogics  

Massimo developed a tool to describe wounds called SEE & WRITE which provides clinicians with the means to prompt both a thorough wound assessment and an accurate written record of the observations made. The acronym is central to the tool, each letter connected to an important wound descriptor.

The Cost-effective Wound Management Award

Winner:  Medicines Management Greenwich Clinical Commissioning Group and Blue Bay Medical Systems  

This nomination is for the development and introduction of an electronic wound care template, with their commercial partners BlueBay, for clinicians to operate in conjunction with clinical software systems used in GP practice. This interoperability of systems to improve care is to date the only one of its kind in the UK and has resulted in huge cost savings and better patient care.

The Innovation Award

Winner:  Sian Cryer, Practice Nurse, Cwmbran Village Surgery  

Sian set up an innovative wound clinic to provide optimal wound care within a GP surgery. It has turned General Practice wound care upside down. Practice nurses can offer 'gold standard' wound care at the point of first patient contact rather than having to wait for support from the district nurse or tissue viability team and as a result healing rates improved from below 30% to above 60%.

The Compression Therapy for Venous and Lymphatic Disorders Award

Winner:  Hildegard Charles, Tissue Viability Consultant and Lecturer, University of Buckinghamshire  

Hildegard introduced short-stretch bandaging to the UK when compression was poorly understood. Huge contribution to the management of venous leg ulcers as the short stretch material reduces oedema better than the elastic material that was previously used. She is worthy of recognition for her outstanding and tireless contribution over the years to clinicians and patients to improve patient care.

The Effective Wound Bed Preparation, Infection and Biofilm Award

Winner:  Yehuda Ullmann, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Rambam Health Care Campus  

Yehuda’s focus on the microbiology of blood cultures in severe burn patients has led to a deeper understanding of wound infection and sepsis. His work on novel wound dressings and skin substitutes, which can be loaded with drug molecules released in a controlled manner, have been shown to reduce bacterial load and infection and induce healing

The Best Laboratory/Pre-Clinical Study Award

Winner:  Andrea Marie Mahon, Doctoral Researcher, National University of Ireland Galway  

To address the need for advanced wound therapies; Andrea designed a preclinical study to assess topical stem cell therapy in a diabetic animal wound model. A stem cell clinical trial in diabetic foot ulcers will be planned by the outcome of this research

The Best Veteran and Military Wound Care Award

Winner:  Lesley Street  

Lesley has dedicated her skills and has gone above and beyond the call of duty to support injured veterans in both the acute and community settings throughout the Afghanistan conflict. Her knowledge and skill is infallible and her commitment to improving the lives of others is remarkable.

The Best Research from a Developing Country Award

Winner:  Shahriar Mirpour and Sarah Fathollah, Research Assistants at Plasma Physics Research Center & Tehran Medical Science University  

The nominees’ project assessed the effect of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma as a novel treatment for diabetic ulcers. The outcomes reported a positive effect in a diabetic rat model.

The Pressure Care Award

Winner:  The Palliative Community Nursing Team from Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent  

This project focused on the early detection and prevention of pressure ulcer development for community palliative care patients where patient comfort and well-being is paramount. The project team realised patients and families lacked information and interventions to prevent the development of pressure ulcers. Raising awareness of the increased risk of developing pressure ulcers for community palliative care patients has led to a recorded risk assessment on first contact with the Hospice for 94% of patients, who are then signposted to necessary intervention services.

The Professional Education Award

Winner:  Melanie Thomas, National Clinical Lead for Lymphoedema in Wales  

With the aim to standardise care for all patients with chronic lymphedema, the clinical and research/education leads at the Lymphoedema Network Wales worked to create and deliver 13 work-based Agored Cymru accredited units promoting wound healing, dressing selection and compression management.

The Patient Wellbeing Award

Winner:  Melanie Thomas, National Clinical Lead for Lymphoedema in Wales  

The Lymphoedema Network Wales created a 'Setting My Agenda' form. The form completed by the patient and carer allowed the patient to discuss what they wanted to address not what the therapist 'thought' they wanted to address. From this the patient can be assured of centred interactions, effective communication and directed self-care to the issues that affect them.

The Best Clinical Research Award

Winner:  Charmaine Childs, Professor of Clinical Science, Sheffield Hallam University  

Professor Childs was nominated for her innovative work using in invasive, infrared thermal imaging showing distinct and reproducible patterns of changes in surgical site infection. Given their results the proposed technique has great potential as an objective, clinical imaging technique for wound classification specifically for SSI surveillance and risk stratification at the bedside.