The HMA team are delighted following a double win at the third and final day of the Connected Healthcare Design Challenge this week. The guys were back at the Digital Media Centre in Barnsley on Wednesday the 20th April and came up trumps winning both the Panel Vote and the Peer Vote.

The brief set was to create a prototype digital solution to improve services for people with learning disabilities.  The HMA team consisted of managing director Nicola Tiffany, head of design Matt Pearce, head of development strategy Gregg Senior, project manager Hetty Key & digital marketing intern Charlie Poyser.  They were joined by clinical champions from Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust including the Learning Disability Liaison Nurse, Tracey Helliwell, and carers of people with learning disabilities.

Following the first session the team finalised proposals for a digitised version of the existing paper based Hospital Passport to present to all attendees and a panel of several industry professionals.

The Judging panel included:

  • Steve Wragg, Chair of Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
  • Richard Stubbs, Commercial Director, Yorkshire & Humber Academic Health Science Network
  • Tania Hide, Head of Economic Partnerships, University of Sheffield
  • Rob Lewis, Head of Health Transformation, R&D Innovation, Reckitt Benckiser
  • Dr Peter Cudd, President of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe
  • Phil Coffin, Head of Creative Strategy, Appitized Health

This esteemed panel unanimously agreed that HMA’s proposal, presentation and prototype should take the coveted prize of a box of Lego which came with the challenge to build our own trophy!  Moreover, as winners on the day, HMA will be supported by Enterprising Barnsley and other event sponsors including the Yorkshire & Humber Academic Health and Science Network to take the idea forward for implementation within the NHS.

In addition, the peer vote prize was an app controlled Star Wars BB8 droid, now the favourite toy in the office!

Nicola said, “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience of the Connected Healthcare design challenge. Working in collaboration with Tracey and her team as well as carers who have first-hand experience of the issues that people with learning disabilities face when in the healthcare system has been invaluable and we’ve listened intently at the stories they’ve had to tell. There’s no doubt in my mind that their knowledge, passion and enthusiasm was the key factor that contributed to our success on the day.”

For more information on the Connected Healthcare Digital Design Challenge go to http://www.barnsleydmc.co.uk/connected-healthcare-digital-design-challenge.html

Photography credit – Timm Cleasby at the Picture Foundry, www.thepicturefoundry.com