Case Studies
The Bristol Buggy
Social Enterprise Award Competition 2007 - Winner
After presenting the business case to an expert panel of judges, the ‘Bristol Buggy’ project team were delighted to discover they had been awarded the Social Enterprise Award of the Enterprise Competition 2007. The award for £3000 was received from Professor Eric Thomas, University of Bristol Vice Chancellor, at the Enterprise Dinner in Wills Memorial Building, University of Bristol. Having received this award the project team were immediately offered a personal donation of £2000 from a parent with first hand experience of caring for a child in a hip spica in the absence of supportive equipment.
The Problem
Following major orthopaedic hip surgery children are often placed in a hip spica (full body plaster cast extending from the nipple line to the ankles) for a period of 6 to 12 weeks. During this period children are unable to bear weight through their hips and must remain in a reclined position.
Patients in hip spica experience a range of medical complications, e.g. pressure sores and constipation, and social isolation due to mobility problems and the inability to sit upright and interact with friends and family. Furthermore, daily living activities such as washing, dressing, feeding and toileting are problematic.
The Solution
The Bristol Buggy is a lightweight, collapsible and compact buggy that can be easily transported in the boot of a typical family car. Children are supported in an upright, non-weight bearing position by attaching the bar fixed into the plaster cast into a specially designed attachment point on the buggy. The Bristol Buggy is capable of being manoeuvred around a hospital, home or school environment allowing children in hip spica to participate in normal daily activities.
By supporting children in a comfortable, upright position without bearing weight through the legs and hips The Bristol Buggy will reduce medical complications, support social interaction with family and friends at home and school and facilitate daily living activities.
The Bristol Buggy is a unique piece of equipment that addresses the unique requirements of patients in hip spica and their families.
Background
The Bristol Buggy was developed by physiotherapists in the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children seven years ago and a small number manufactured by a company (original buggy in picture). The original models are still in use at the hospital but have not been made available more widely. The Enterprise Competition 2007 caught the attention of the physiotherapists who remain convinced of the value of the buggy to patients and their carers.
The Bristol Buggy was entered in to the competition and short listed as a finalist. A business plan was submitted seeking funding to establish a hire service that would enable individual carers or NHS providers to hire a buggy for a period of 6 to 12 weeks.
Next Steps
A phased development plan has been implemented using the funds received. Further funding has been sought from charitable sources and a preliminary commitment given by a local charity to meet the funding needed to redesign the Bristol Buggy and build six prototypes for use in the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. Once the design has been established and further market research conducted the commercialisation strategy for the Bristol Buggy will be formed with a view to making it widely available.
