Clatterbridge innovation set to be designed into patient care

Posted 8th March 2023

Patients at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre with spine issues are using a new service so they can cope with lying flat for hours on end after equipment was adapted to help them.

A Levo screen holder has been adapted for use in clinical environments, so patients having to lie flat and immobile for long periods while being diagnosed can still use a tablet device for entertainment, communication or to manage their care.

Clatterbridge’s innovation team asked the University of Liverpool (UoL) to modify the standard commercial screen holder and now the company which manufactures the equipment is working on a newer version incorporating the change, which could eventually be marketed to similar patients across the world.

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre runs a scheme for staff - funded by Clatterbridge Cancer Charity - to submit Bright Ideas, innovations which can help treatment or care of patients or improve the working environment for staff. A member of the Trust’s Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression team, which looks after patients with a spine problems that could be cancerous, suggested an overhead screen could be set up to entertain patients who have to lie on their backs in a hospital bed for up to 10 hours at a time while diagnostic and other procedures take place.

As patients use various hospital beds a screen fixed to a ceiling was not an option, so the Clatterbridge’s Innovation Manager Drew Norwood-Green sourced a mobile screen holder so it could be wheeled into place when needed, and worked through a safety adaptation with the UoL School of Engineering to prevent it dropping down suddenly when adjusted.

The Levo screen holder has been trialed with patients and staff at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool with very positive feedback.

Now, Serious Brands, who are responsible for the Levo screen holder stand across Europe, has agreed to look at adapting it to incorporate the safety feature into new models – which could eventually be used by other spinal patients globally.

Drew said: “From an initial idea from one of our staff, the initiative has developed into a solution that has now been put into action and is helping our patients.

“Many of those using the screen reader in this way are patients who need to be in hospital for urgent diagnosis of a spinal condition. They are understandably concerned about the situation and it is not a nice experience for them to be lying flat for many hours on end without stimulation or something to take their mind off the procedures.

“As they have to lie flat, they can’t watch TV or use a tablet in the usual way, but now they can with this adapted screen holder. Staff are really happy with the new equipment and it has made a huge difference to the experience of these patients.”

The screen holder is also being used by patients to fill in assessments themselves of their care, rather than staff having to do this, which frees up staff to care for others and gives more accurate answers.

Drew said: “It is amazing that the adaptation we came up with has been taken up by Serious Brands and the company is now creating prototypes of a new version of the screen reader to help this type of patient. We would like to thank them for understanding the benefits of this innovation.”

Michael O’Boyle, Customer Champion at Serious Brands, said: “We were delighted when Clatterbridge approached us to ask about adapting our Levo stand for these patients and we are now working to find a permanent modification to the equipment so it can be marketed widely if this is successful.

“At Serious Brands our mission is to transform lives through our products and we are delighted that Clatterbridge patients are giving so much positive feedback on the stand and how it improves their experience of care at a very worrying time for them.”

Dr Séamus Coyle, Clatterbridge’s Clinical Lead for Innovation, said: “Our Bright Ideas scheme has so far brought in 150 ideas from staff and patients and we have successfully implemented a number of them. Being innovative is incredibly important at Clatterbridge and this screen holder is the latest innovation which is benefiting our patients.”