A SOUTH Tyneside nurse, whose daughter's hospital dash inspired her to make the experience less frightening for other children, has been honoured with an award.
Ten-year-old Emily Fay Nisbet-Forster was rushed to Newcastle General Hospital on Christmas Day, after she took ill with suspected meningitis.
Fortunately, the youngster was found to be suffering from a bacterial infection and made a full recovery
.
But her ordeal led parents Rebecca, 37, and Matthew, 45, a designer, to come up with the idea for a decorative drip stand.
"Children can often be afraid of medical equipment used in a hospital ward," said Mrs Nisbet-Forster, ward sister at Palmer Community Hospital in Jarrow.
"We thought we could make the drip stands less scary by using drip bag covers with pictures and designs on them, which can be slipped over the conventional drip bag.
"The decorative drip stand can then be moulded in various friendly designs that children will find attractive."
The idea was highly commended in the Innovative Service Delivery category of the Bright Ideas in Health Awards 2008, run by NHS Innovation North.
NHS staff were invited to come up with ways to improve patient care and generate revenue for the NHS.
The couple, from Stannington, Northumberland, are now in discussions with a company that wants to make a prototype, as Mr Nisbet-Forster's fairy, pirate, snake and vine designs were scribbled on plastic bags.
His wife has been employed by Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust for 11 years and has worked with older people and in adult mental health services.
She was previously involved in gaining a Charter Mark V Award for Bede Day Unit and in opening a patients' therapeutic garden at Brinkburn Day Unit, both at South Tyneside District Hospital.
The full article contains 301 words and appears in Shields Gazette newspaper.
