'Let's Move' Therapy Project Boost For Scottish Children - NHS Invention Reaps Benefit Of Private Sector Partnership

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness;  Autism
Article Date: 10 Jun 2008 - 3:00 PST

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A ground breaking training package that helps to identify and support children with sensory motor difficulties including Autism Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) has been on trial in Dumfries & Galloway and is set to roll out to other education authorities throughout Scotland and potentially the UK.

The "Let's Move" package, which includes a manual, DVD and 40 therapeutic activity cards, was developed originally by two local NHS occupational therapists.

It helps to identify children with potential difficulties, as well as supporting those with diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental Co-ordination Disorder, and other developmental conditions.

Now, with the help Scottish Health Innovations (SHIL), "Let's Move" has been commercialised with a private sector partner, Glasgow design company Midgibyte Creations. The package is already being used in Dumfries and Galloway schools, and is now being offered to education authorities all over Scotland.

The package is based on the invention by two local NHS paediatric occupational therapists, Clare Kettlewell and Karen Craig.

"The idea is to enable therapists, school staff, parents and carers to work with children at various ages to identify potential problems, but also to intervene very quickly to help those children to gain confidence, work together in groups, and to improve their motor skills," explained Clare Kettlewell.

"Already in Dumfries and Galloway we are seeing evidence that the programme is extremely effective. We expect its success to be repeated in other areas of Scotland."

Elaine Gemmell, of SHIL, commented: "It has been very rewarding working with both the therapists at NHS Dumfries and Galloway and Midgibyte Creations, with a view to creating a product that will benefit children.

"The success of Let's Move will demonstrate that new ideas from within NHS Scotland are worth pursuing. There will always be opportunities to use the specialist knowledge gained within the NHS to improve health and well being in the community. I hope that Let's Move will encourage staff across NHS Scotland to come forward with their own ideas."

Midgibyte Creations, the creative partner for Let's Move, is a design company in Glasgow owned by former Celtic and Scotland international footballer Paul McStay. The company identified an opportunity to dovetail Let's Move with their concept.

"This is an educational program that helps children to improve their skills and gain confidence. As the creative partner for Let's Move, our task was to develop a user friendly resource using video, animation and graphics to empower educators," commented Paul McStay.

"Let's Move has made a difference to children in Dumfries and Galloway and we hope that by creating this pack that children throughout Scotland will now be able to benefit. With this in mind, we are already in discussion with other Local Authorities and we have the support of the Scottish Out of School Care Network.."

About SHIL

Scottish Health Innovations Limited (SHIL) supports the development and commercialisation of innovations arising within the NHS in Scotland. With funding from the Scottish Executive's Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise., SHIL seeks to identify and develop new technologies which can be exploited through partnerships with the private sector. SHIL is able to provide high quality advice and assistance on market application and intellectual property protection to inventors and researchers throughout NHSScotland. Thereafter, considerable value is added to these innovations by providing managerial and funding support during their development and commercialisation.

SHIL seeks to:

- improve quality and value for money of patient care throughout NHSScotland

- increase the generation of income to the NHS

- stimulate economic wealth in Scotland through the creation of new jobs and enterprises, and delivering new market opportunities for businesses interested in licensing NHSScotland technologies

Scottish Health Innovations Limited