Awards Expo a showcase of good health

5 May 2005

Awards Expo a showcase of good health

The public will see first hand the difference ingenuity is making to health care and rehabilitation at the Health Innovation Awards Expo at Te Papa on June 30.

On display will be innovations by 24 finalists chosen from 151 entrants in the New Zealand Health Innovation Awards 2005. The awards are a joint initiative between ACC and the Ministry of Health, supported by Telecom New Zealand and will be announced at a gala dinner that night.

The awards celebrate and reward innovations in health and rehabilitation and encourage the sharing of ideas across the sector.

The Expo is open to the public and provides an opportunity for people to talk to the finalists and learn more about good ideas that are making a difference.

Finalists from all parts of New Zealand have produced a wide range of innovations. These include a new lifting programme that has halved the back injury rate among nurses in Southland and a programme to beat obesity in young people from Northland that involves the whole family.

An improved system for storing and transporting blood, a text messaging programme to help young people stop smoking and an online calculator to help doctors treat sick newborns are among the many products, services and processes represented. The winners will be announced at the 2005 Health Innovation Awards dinner that follows the Expo. The Supreme Award winner will receive $15,000 and there are prizes for the best individual, group and organisation entries.

Last year's winner, an improved system for treating patients with stomach upsets, helped Auckland District Health Board reduce waiting lists and cut costs by $1.5 million.

ENDS

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