An innovation competition is set to be launched this week with the aim of inspiring the NHS Grampian workforce to improve patient care

The contest will be open to all staff members – in any role and from any department – with some fantastic prizes on offer from NHS partner InnoScot Health for the best ideas, whether simple or complex.

Launching on 19 April at the Celebration of Excellence event, it is hoped the competition will stimulate innovative thinking and problem solving while laying a platform for fresh economic opportunities for NHS Grampian.

The first 100 competition applicants will receive a £10 Costa Coffee gift card. Three finalists will then be chosen, with two runner-up prizes of DAB radios and the overall winner receiving an Apple iPad.

Applications related to any NHS department are being encouraged with further competition details available on social media after the launch event.

Dr Andy Keen, Clinical Lead for Innovation, NHS Grampian, said: "We are proud to support this InnoScot Health initiative which encourages our innovative staff to express their ideas about how the care they provide could be improved.

“They know better than anyone where technology could help deliver better outcomes for our community and what these products need to look like. We look forward to hearing about the innovative ideas of our staff and wish them luck with their submissions.”

Leigh Mair, Innovation Manager at InnoScot Health, said: “Partnering on this fantastic project offers so many benefits for all involved – foremost being the health needs of Grampian’s half a million population.

“It’s undoubtedly a diverse region with unique healthcare requirements that necessitate specialised solutions.

“That’s where NHS Grampian’s workforce comes in, offering knowledge and insight that no one else can. Absolutely anyone can be an innovator.

“In turn, they will benefit from InnoScot Health’s support and its extensive experience across 20 years to assess, protect, develop, and commercialise innovations, with successful projects then potentially generating an income stream to NHS Grampian.”