Before Christmas 2015, a surgery in Bushey were shortlisted for the National NHS Innovation Acorn Award – in January they were told they had won.

Attenborough Surgery, in London Road, Bushey, presented their innovative finger prick blood testing device in December and were shortlisted for the award.

The device helps to see whether a patient actually needs prescriptions through a quick blood sample.

Sister Liz Cross of the surgery said: “The finger prick device will reduce the pressure from the NHS and save prescriptions and doctors time for those who actually need it.

“At Attenborough, it has already reduced our patient numbers down and most people never ask for a second opinion.

“We have reduced our antibiotic prescribing by 25 per cent from November/December 2014 to the same time the year after.

“It was very exciting when we got shortlisted. Most people who enter the NHS Innovation Challenge are from hospitals so it was great when we won as we are a GP.”

According to Sister Cross the innovative finger prick is already being used in Europe and was not introduced into the UK until now.

With the winning prize money of £10,000 Sister Cross and her partner Dr David Zemmel are hoping to move the innovation across the county and gradually around the country.

They believe that this device will reduce the pressures on the NHS and according to Sister Cross their patients are confident in the test results and are happy to self-manage their symptoms.

She said: “At the Attenborough service, we are providing quality, evidence based care to our patients and we look forward to moving to new modern facilities in spring 2017.

The NHS Innovation Challenge looks to encourage, recognise and reward front line innovations and introduce them into the NHS.

Over the last five years, the NHS Innovation Challenge has helped to identify and spread proven innovations and help to bring about a sustainable change to the current challenges the NHS face.