Co-Design Dr Louise Moody Coventry University Devices 4 Dignity, UK
What is Devices 4 Dignity? D4D was set up in 2008 as one of two pilot Department of Health, Health Technology Cooperatives (HTCs) Funded through the NIHR Invention for Innovation Programme, the Technology Strategy Board, EPSRC, MRC and ABHI Infrastructure funding to co-ordinate expertise The aim of D4D is to: To deliver innovative technology solutions to support patients with long term conditions, which preserve their dignity and independence
A National Network D4D is a national resource working with patients, industry, academia and clinicians to find out what people really need, then bringing together national teams of experts to design and develop solutions NHS Users Academia Industry It is based within the NHS to identify areas of high need and prioritise Hosted and co-ordinated by the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
D4D Partners D4D partners 7 NHS Trusts 3 Universities 2 formal charity partners It is focused on drawing together the right project team for codevelopment
Experts and Collaborators
Areas of Focus Urinary Continence Management 2nd most common reason for need for institutional care Renal Technologies 0.05% of population but 2% of NHS budget Assistive and Rehabilitative Technologies 11 million people in the UK with disabilities
Co-Design Philosophy Strong emphasis on active patient involvement and stakeholder collaboration Designers and people not trained in design, working together during the development process to determine the content of the solution We aim to place users at the centre of the design process from the stages of planning and designing the requirements, to the implementation and evaluation of the product, and dissemination For each project D4D links up all of the relevant stakeholders Academics Researchers Industry Clinicians Carers Patients Charities Decision-makers
Co-Design to.. Identify key issues / problems Prioritise potential research project areas Define the scope of projects Define how success will be measured Test prototypes, comment on functionality, suggest changes Evaluate final solutions Make recommendations for future development Disseminate Scope out design ideas for products
Designing with Users A project to determine the design specifications of a new paediatric wheelchair Whizz-Kidz assisted with feedback on wheelchair designs to aid selection of a final design
Product Development & Testing An ultra-lightweight shower chair for independent, active wheelchair users (Kingcraft Ltd) Development of new catheter designs that address current limitations (Mediplus)
Legbag developments Shaping Research Projects
The Benefits of Co-Design Projects are defined based on user and stakeholder needs and priorities Projects have greater benefit to the user / stakeholder and greater impact in the real world The process of involving the user is rewarding to the user and the project, as capacity is built and skills and expertise are developed and shared It builds empathy and a shared understanding of each others worlds and priorities Through regular input it allows detection of problems early in the design process thereby saving time and money It helps recruitment to studies and can speed up the development process It improves sharing of the project with the wider community
Adding Value Successful and promising results D4D has reviewed over 250 new product ideas and has provided proof-of-concept funding for the ten of the most promising It is currently running a portfolio of 24 projects Awards for impact on healthcare: 2011 Medilink Healthcare Business 2012 Leading Together On Health The consortium has successfully leveraged significant additional funding funding since 2008 D4D has recently been awarded 800,000 funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to continue to operate in this way focusing on real patient needs and expanding the network
www.devicesfordignity.org.uk