With the support of National Procurement teams at NHS National Services Scotland, Insite Specialist Services has been selected to participate in the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), which aims to develop ground breaking solutions for the NHS to challenges that have been created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Scottish Government has invested £400,000 to run this initiative to drive forward vital innovation in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and decontamination technologies.
The aim of the SBRI project is to develop solutions that:
- Aid prevention or reduce the spread of droplet and airborne biological hazards
- Reduce NHS staff reliance on single-use disposable PPE
- Allow the return of clinical procedures which are currently considered high risk because of their aerosol generating nature
Insite Specialist Services Biosecurity System works at decontamination of area/surface/air cleansing. NHS Tayside will offer real time access and expertise from staff working in Infection, Prevention and Control, Decontamination, Health and Safety, Medical Physics and other departments as required.
Scottish Government Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, Ivan McKee said:
“The Scottish Government is investing £400,000 in this project to boost innovation in creating reusable PPE and air and surface decontamination solutions.
“The pandemic has highlighted the reliance we have on single-use PPE items so it is right that we recognise the sustainability challenge and seek solutions which can overcome it. I look forward to seeing the results of this crucial initiative.”
The project will be primarily located within Ninewells Hospital, Dundee and other sites in NHS Tayside, social care and outpatient settings will also be considered. Gordon Bruce, founder of Insite Specialist Services, commented:
“This is a ground-breaking step in the development of our innovative products and systems which aim to reduce Covid-19 and other infections. This new project is an essential part of our learning about how environmental decontamination technologies can be adopted in particular settings.
"Covid-19 has made people even more aware that dangers lurk in our indoor spaces and we at Insite Group have scientifically proven solutions which can address these in a range of settings."
Professor Colin Fleming, Consultant Dermatologist and lead of the SBRI hosted by NHS Tayside, said,
“We are very pleased to be able to host this SBRI. Being part of this challenge allows NHS Tayside to be at the forefront of innovative work and help to drive forward research and developments that could potentially benefit the wider NHS.
“These companies are working to develop exciting solutions to challenges that have been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic and could make a real difference to healthcare and the environment.”
Kate Cheesbrough, Innovation Project Manager for NHS Tayside, said, “This SBRI offers a unique opportunity for NHS staff to collaborate with industry partners and to benefit from each other’s expertise and knowledge in this field.”
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