2019 Bright Ideas award-winners

The Royal College of GPs recognises excellence and innovation in general practice through its annual Bright Ideas Awards. The Awards are presented to healthcare professionals and patients who have identified, tried and tested a better way of doing things when treating and caring for patients.

Bright Ideas Awards were established to inspire, celebrate and recognise fresh thinking in primary care.

This year’s winners represent all four UK nations. Each demonstrated that their Bright Idea improved general practice in one of several areas: increasing patient satisfaction, reducing workload, making the practices more efficient, improving staff morale, and bettering patient satisfaction. 
 
There are two categories of award: Pioneer Awards recognise ideas that push the boundaries of general practice; and High Impact Awards celebrate those who have taken a fresh approach to addressing the challenges currently facing primary care.

This year, the winners are: 

England

• England (Pioneer Award): Dr Ben Noble, Woodbrook Medical Centre, Loughborough, developed interactive online ‘Cancer Maps’ based on NICE Guidelines NG12, designed to be used during consultations to help clinicians recognise cancer symptoms
• England (High Impact Award): Dr Pritti Aggarwal, Southampton Clinical Commissioning Group, founded a GP Exchange programme for primary and secondary care professionals to improve interprofessional working, in turn leading to better patient care

Northern Ireland

• Northern Ireland (High Impact Award): Dr Richard Kirk, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Dundonald, pioneered an initiative to improve communication between medical professionals caring for patients in prisons across Northern Ireland

Scotland

• Scotland (High Impact Award): The team at Crimond Medical Centre, Fraserburgh, developed an Opioid Patient Support and Reduction Programme for patients suffering with chronic pain

Wales

• Wales (High Impact Award): Dr Eilir Hughes, Dwyfor Primary Care Cluster, introduced an innovative approach to caring for temporary residents and visitors to Dwyfor during holiday periods
• Wales (Pioneer Award): Red Kite Health Solutions, South Powys set up a social enterprise to help them to develop a sustainable workforce and improve access to healthcare. 

Find out about the 2018 Bright Ideas award-winners.