This award is made to a healthcare scientist whose expertise in research and development has led to novel applications of science and technology which have had a major impact on patient care and management, encompassing all stages of the biomedical research process from concept, through development, and then translation into clinical practice. This year's winner is Professor Alan Murray, who heads Medical Physics at Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Over a long career Professor Murray, medical physicist, Professor of cardiovascular physics and head of the Freeman Hospital Medical Physics Unit in Newcastle, has made many significant contributions to healthcare science, and not just in his own hospital. For instance, he not only set up an ECG Holter service - 24 hour cardiac monitoring while a patient is moving about - but also developed techniques for editing the vast amount of data that was generated. These techniques were adopted internationally and are still used today.
Professor Murray has planned, directed and conducted research published extensively including papers in Nature. He provides expert advice to the Department of Health on electromedical devices and blood pressure devices and developed a mercury free sphygmomanometer (blood pressure measurement) now on sale all over the world.
Secretary of State Patricia Hewitt said "I am delighted to present the third annual healthcare science awards recognising excellence in healthcare science and how it is applied to improve the experience of patients. Without the contribution of healthcare scientists we would not be able to deliver the wide ranging priorities of the NHS. It is critical that we use the skills and talents of this highly qualified workforce perhaps more creatively than we have in the past building upon the successes of the finalists and recipients of the healthcare science awards."
Sue Hill, Chief Scientific Officer at the Department of Health, said "These awards celebrate the tremendous achievements of the healthcare scientist workforce highlighting the skills and talents of a workforce that often prefers to remain in the background. Our challenge is to build on these achievements and other successes within the NHS and to consider how we can improve services and how we can put in place plans to create a scientific workforce that is fit for purpose, is flexible and responsive to the needs of patients and users of scientific services."
This year's Chief Scientific Officer's Conference took place at London's Hotel Russell. Hosted by science writer and broadcaster Vivienne Parry the two-day event launched the start of Healthcare Science Awareness Week (27th November to 1st December 2006) and built on the success of the two previous years. This year's programme provided an opportunity to hear from, and engage in, debate with respected and experienced leaders in the profession, within health policy and Government, as well as networking with colleagues.
The conference provided a platform to explore the overall direction of the NHS and recognised, the important contribution that healthcare scientists make now and could make in the future. The conference also addressed how the workforce needs to respond to the challenges presented by modernising and developing skills and leadership. It also provided delegates with an opportunity to discuss key parts of Healthcare Reform including, The White Paper, 'Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services', the 18 week access programme, and specifically diagnostics, Public Health and new national service frameworks.
21st December 2006
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