In summer 2009, the English, Welsh and Scottish Ambulance Service identified a number of important clinical needs within the service.  One of those needs - for a splint to immobilise a fractured neck of femur - is described below.  The Service also suggested desired solutions, the business opportunities they might present and other requirements that might be needed to bring the concept to market.

Description

An easy to use and re-use mechanism for moving patients with a fractured neck of femur.  The mechanism should be able to self regulate and stabilise the hip whilst the patient is in transit and so help protect the patient from further injury.

So, here's what the Ambulance Service said:

Wouldn't it be great if there was a new, easy to use/re-use mechanism for moving patients with a fractured neck of femur which would self regulate/stabilise whilst the patient was in transit (help protect the patient from further injury to an already painful complaint).

What they said about the need:

The existing splint is too complicated to use, there are too many straps, and bits tend to go missing. If all the bits are there and they can get it to fit properly it does little to stabilise the patient over rough terrain or when moving them.  If they can't get it to work in ten seconds they won't use it, especially in emergencies   (known as the 10 Second Rule).  There is recognition that getting Granny down three flights of stairs in a cluttered house with no working lights is exactly why a better splint is needed, especially when you combine this with the existing carry chair which does little to help the situation

To register, please see:
http://competitions.nic.nhs.uk/ChallengeList.aspx