The Innovating For Life Awards

After the success of the first Innovating for Life Awards, we are pleased to announce that the 2012 - 13 Innovating for Life Awards are now open for entries until 31st January 2013.

The Innovating for Life Awards reward innovation and creativity within maternity and neonatal teams to improve the care of infants.

Innovation lies at the heart of maternity and neonatal care.

Maternity and neonatal teams rely on research and evidence based creative thinking to advance care. Development of state-of-the-art equipment, pioneering techniques and progressive working practices help to improve care on a daily basis.

Who is eligible to enter the awards?

The Innovating for Life Awards are aimed at:
• Midwives and their full teams
• Neonatologists and their full teams including dietitians and paediatricians

Teams with both midwifery and neonatal roles should apply for the award that is most appropriate to their innovation and profession. The winners will be contacted in February 2013 and displayed on the Innovating for Life website from Spring 2013 onwards.

Innovation in action

Innovation plays a huge role in maternity and neonatal care. We received some excellent entries to the first Innovating for Life Awards that really demonstrated how innovative ideas are born in practice and not in the lab.

Last year’s winner: Midwifery category
Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting Project
Lead applicant: Dr. Sian Warriner, Consultant Midwife, Midwifery Team, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
The Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) project promotes mindfulness meditation during pregnancy, childbirth and the parenting relationship; and parenting education, family health and supportive peer relationships; to help address fear, pain, stress and depression. The aim is to equip expectant parents with specific skills to negotiate the transition to parenthood and decrease anxiety and depression during pregnancy and beyond.

Last year’s winner: Neonatal category
Improving Neonatal Airway Management
Lead applicant: Dr. Richard Mupanemunda, Consultant Neonatologist, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
A 4-step intervention project aimed at improving the management of infants with difficult neonatal airways. This will be through the development of an algorithm, an equipment kit, improved training and a neonatal clinical pathway.

Both projects are now benefiting from awards grants of £10,000.

If you have an innovative idea or an existing programme that have the potential to improve practice, don’t hesitate to enter, the Innovating for Life Award ...
If you have any questions regarding the awards please call 020 8971 6400.