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Dragons' Den rejected me but my invention is saving lives across the NHS Dragons' Den rejected me but my invention is saving lives across the NHS
(about 1 hour later)
Nurses work on the frontline and are in an ideal position to innovateNurses work on the frontline and are in an ideal position to innovate
“Since I appeared on Dragons’ Den last year, the business has surged and there is more support,” says Neomi Bennett.“Since I appeared on Dragons’ Den last year, the business has surged and there is more support,” says Neomi Bennett.
Bennett is the inventor of Neo-slip, a pouch-like contraption that makes it easier for patients to wear their anti-embolism stockings, known to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) clots. Although it was rejected on Dragons’ Den, Bennett considers being able to highlight the problem of DVT with millions of viewers as her biggest achievement.Bennett is the inventor of Neo-slip, a pouch-like contraption that makes it easier for patients to wear their anti-embolism stockings, known to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) clots. Although it was rejected on Dragons’ Den, Bennett considers being able to highlight the problem of DVT with millions of viewers as her biggest achievement.
Bennett came up with the idea in 2011 while working as a student nurse at Kingston University. She says: “In my final year, I was asked to look at problems faced by patients and find a solution [as part of risk assessment essay]. I noticed many people, especially the elderly, were finding it difficult to apply anti-embolism stockings because they are tight and often uncomfortable. Some would eventually give up and stop using them.Bennett came up with the idea in 2011 while working as a student nurse at Kingston University. She says: “In my final year, I was asked to look at problems faced by patients and find a solution [as part of risk assessment essay]. I noticed many people, especially the elderly, were finding it difficult to apply anti-embolism stockings because they are tight and often uncomfortable. Some would eventually give up and stop using them.
“Twenty-five thousand people die every year in the UK from preventable deep vein thrombosis, so I knew we needed a product that encourages people to use those stockings and this is how Neo-slip came about.”“Twenty-five thousand people die every year in the UK from preventable deep vein thrombosis, so I knew we needed a product that encourages people to use those stockings and this is how Neo-slip came about.”
With help from UnLtd, which supports social entrepreneurs in the UK, and a government loan, she set up her own enterprise in 2012 and has not looked back. Neo-slip is currently supplied to 34 hospitals and various independent pharmacies across the UK. The product has also won Royal College of Nursing and Smarta 100 innovation awards.With help from UnLtd, which supports social entrepreneurs in the UK, and a government loan, she set up her own enterprise in 2012 and has not looked back. Neo-slip is currently supplied to 34 hospitals and various independent pharmacies across the UK. The product has also won Royal College of Nursing and Smarta 100 innovation awards.
A single mother of three, who left school at the age of 16, Bennett says her entrepreneurial journey hasn’t been easy. “In addition to studying nursing, I had to learn how to run a business – its structure, processes and logistics – as I didn’t have any business background. There were also financial challenges as [is the case] with start-ups.”A single mother of three, who left school at the age of 16, Bennett says her entrepreneurial journey hasn’t been easy. “In addition to studying nursing, I had to learn how to run a business – its structure, processes and logistics – as I didn’t have any business background. There were also financial challenges as [is the case] with start-ups.”
She says the health service is better at signposting than at practical support.She says the health service is better at signposting than at practical support.
My children inspired me to invent a tool to prevent dehydration in older patientsMy children inspired me to invent a tool to prevent dehydration in older patients
Naomi Campbell first thought of a drinking aid while watching her children use a toy to sip their drink. A community nurse at the time, she wondered if something similar could be used to prevent dehydration inolder people. “It may sound corny but it really was a light bulb moment,” she says.Naomi Campbell first thought of a drinking aid while watching her children use a toy to sip their drink. A community nurse at the time, she wondered if something similar could be used to prevent dehydration inolder people. “It may sound corny but it really was a light bulb moment,” she says.
With the help of a £15,000 grant by NHS Innovations South West, she designed a device called a micro straw that allows patients to drink their fluids independently, reducing their dependence on nursing staff.With the help of a £15,000 grant by NHS Innovations South West, she designed a device called a micro straw that allows patients to drink their fluids independently, reducing their dependence on nursing staff.
The next problem was monitoring their intake, so Campbell came up with another creation: a cup with a scale on the side to make it easier for staff and carers to check the amount of fluid consumed. The micro straw was granted a UK patent in 2013, while the simple measures cup was trialled in Falmouth hospital and is now used in all Cornish community hospitals.The next problem was monitoring their intake, so Campbell came up with another creation: a cup with a scale on the side to make it easier for staff and carers to check the amount of fluid consumed. The micro straw was granted a UK patent in 2013, while the simple measures cup was trialled in Falmouth hospital and is now used in all Cornish community hospitals.
Campbell is now working on a complete education package, combining her innovations with practical risk assessment and monitoring tools, to raise awareness among carers and healthcare organisations.Campbell is now working on a complete education package, combining her innovations with practical risk assessment and monitoring tools, to raise awareness among carers and healthcare organisations.
“Dehydration is long-term problem … elderly patients need to be supported, encouraged and helped to drink. Sometimes older people avoid drinking water because they are concerned about going to the bathroom or too hesitant to ask for help,” she says.“Dehydration is long-term problem … elderly patients need to be supported, encouraged and helped to drink. Sometimes older people avoid drinking water because they are concerned about going to the bathroom or too hesitant to ask for help,” she says.
“There is a need to improve basic hydration care in the NHS and wider health and social care system. There are many issues around elderly care hydration that nursing hasn’t addressed – poor chart-keeping, monitoring of drink consumed and identification of patients who are at risk.”“There is a need to improve basic hydration care in the NHS and wider health and social care system. There are many issues around elderly care hydration that nursing hasn’t addressed – poor chart-keeping, monitoring of drink consumed and identification of patients who are at risk.”
Nurses understand problems and have solutions but we’re not good at putting ourselves forwardNurses understand problems and have solutions but we’re not good at putting ourselves forward
Bernadette Porter, creator of NeuroResponse, a nurse-led telehealth service for MS patients, says there needs to be a culture change in the NHS. “To encourage more nurses to innovate, we have to give them permission to fail,” she says.Bernadette Porter, creator of NeuroResponse, a nurse-led telehealth service for MS patients, says there needs to be a culture change in the NHS. “To encourage more nurses to innovate, we have to give them permission to fail,” she says.
With a career spanning more than 25 years, Porter understands the health service and its complexities. In 2003 she was the first nurse in the NHS to be appointed a multiple sclerosis nurse consultantand was was awarded an MBE in 2013.With a career spanning more than 25 years, Porter understands the health service and its complexities. In 2003 she was the first nurse in the NHS to be appointed a multiple sclerosis nurse consultantand was was awarded an MBE in 2013.
The idea of NeuroResponse came to her at a social entrepreneurship course. “We were challenged to think about care from a user’s perspective … and we use technology in all spheres of life such as banking and shopping, so why not use it to bring expert care nearer to patient’s home?”The idea of NeuroResponse came to her at a social entrepreneurship course. “We were challenged to think about care from a user’s perspective … and we use technology in all spheres of life such as banking and shopping, so why not use it to bring expert care nearer to patient’s home?”
She was selected as one of the 17 innovators for the NHS Innovation Accelerators (NIA) programme last year to scale up the project across England. It is already being expanded to other parts of London and Essex.She was selected as one of the 17 innovators for the NHS Innovation Accelerators (NIA) programme last year to scale up the project across England. It is already being expanded to other parts of London and Essex.
Porter says it was a good experience to network with other NIA innovators: “All of them had a ‘can do’ attitude, which is what we need in the NHS.”Porter says it was a good experience to network with other NIA innovators: “All of them had a ‘can do’ attitude, which is what we need in the NHS.”
She adds that there should be more community forums for innovators where they can share their ideas, support each other and learn more about entrepreneurship, information technology and co-designing services. “Nurses work with patients directly, understand their problems and have a good idea about the solutions. However, we are not good at putting ourselves forward. We need to be more confident.”She adds that there should be more community forums for innovators where they can share their ideas, support each other and learn more about entrepreneurship, information technology and co-designing services. “Nurses work with patients directly, understand their problems and have a good idea about the solutions. However, we are not good at putting ourselves forward. We need to be more confident.”
Shrestha Trivedi is a freelance journalist Shreshtha Trivedi is a freelance journalist
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