Two Mayo University Hospital pharmacists have won a the national 2020 Spark Ignite Innovation competition, which seeks innovative ideas from Ireland’s healthcare staff.
Marie Ronan and Rose Cafferkey proposed the idea for a smart tool, capable of real-time auditing, monitoring and surveillance of antibiotics.
The competition is open for suggestions from the Republic of Ireland’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE)’s nationwide staff of more than 115,000 employees.
Launched in February, the contest ended on 15 July, and the winners were chosen from over 150 applications.
The duo received a €3,000 prize in the regional final, topped up with a further €3,000 for their national final success, after being deemed the frontrunners by Health Innovation Hub Ireland, the Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director, and National Doctors Training and Planning.
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Marie Ronan said: “Rose and I are delighted and proud to win this prestigious award for the Antimicrobial Stewardship Team and Pharmacy Department in Mayo University Hospital,”
“Antimicrobial resistance affects us all and has the potential to have a devastating impact on all our lives.”
According to the World Health Organisation, antimicrobial resistance is present in every country around the world and increasing resistance to treatment has begun to complicate the fight against HIV and malaria.
HSE’s chief executive Paul Reid commented: “It is particularly encouraging to see the number of participants that continued to develop their ideas during a pandemic and is another testament to the dedication shown by all staff within the HSE.”
A total of 36 finalists were selected for the Spark Ignite Innovation competition. Each of them participated in an innovation workshop and received mentorship from Health Innovation Hub Ireland ahead of the regional and national pitch battles.
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To secure their national victory, Ronan and Cafferkey participated in two rounds of pitching to a panel of judges, which were conducted virtually under Covid-19 restrictions.
They and all other category winners from the competition will continue to receive guidance from Health Innovation Hub Ireland to further develop their ideas. They will also be able to avail of the organisation’s innovation pathway for start-ups seeking pilot or validation studies for commercialisation.
Reid added: “To those who went on to compete in the regional and national finals, you should be proud of your achievements and I look forward to seeing the realisation of your ideas in the health services.”
Sources: Silicon Republic, IDA Ireland
