A PIONEERING project in Blackburn which links patients and doctors on video is on line to win a top national medical award.

The unique Telemedicine System at Blackburn Royal Infirmary has been shortlisted for the Hospital Doctor Innovation Team of the Year Awards 2000.

Judging took place at the hospital and the final winner will be announced at an awards ceremony in London later in the year.

The Blackburn team is one of just three medical teams across the country chosen to be put forward for this prestigious award.

The new system, which was developed by the team at Blackburn and officially launched in March this year, enables experts in facial injuries at BRI to advise on treatments for patients from other hospitals in East Lancashire, Bolton and Bury via a video link.

Using a camera, earphones and an automated link on a video conferencing system, staff on accident and emergency wards across the area can transfer images of a patient's injuries to the Blackburn team who can then advise on treatment.

The biggest benefits of the system include reducing the number of unnecessary journeys patients would otherwise have to make to Blackburn and also the added advantage of obtaining expert advice as soon as possible. The Blackburn facial injuries department receives patients from an area covering around 1.25 million people.

External images and X-rays of injuries are transmitted between medical teams and the system also has the facility to magnify images and use cameras inside the mouths of patients.

Janice Atkinson, Trust business manager for Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care, said: "Although televisual links like this are used in other areas of medicine, it is the refinements to the system here which make this project innovative."

Mr John Lowry, consultant in oral and maxillofacial surgery and leader of the Blackburn telemedicine team, said: "Being able to see patients and discuss their injuries together with X-rays with the casualty doctor over the audio-visual link is a great help and has already proved of considerable benefit in the care of a number of patients.

"We are now delighted to have been shortlisted for the Innovation Team of the Year."

Picture: Sister Sarah Fitch, consultant Steve Langton and John Lowry, consultant Maxillo-facial and oral surgeon, discuss a patient