COVER STORY - ADVE RT I S ING FEATUR E
Portsmouth and he led the project – drawing up the initial brief and working alongside Anetic Aid’s designers and engineers to create the first prototypes. In all, it took around 18 months to develop, and in 1991 when the day surgery unit opened, the new equipment was ready – and the rest, as they say, is history.
Harnessing new technologies and materials
Of course, there have been many other innovative projects too: Anetic Aid started supplying tourniquet systems in the 80s, an- other item of equipment which has radically changed technologically. Back then they were pneumatic – while now, Anetic Aid’s AT4 is a standalone, state-of-the-art electron- ic tourniquet system with integral air supply, long-life batteries, OLED displays and inbuilt self-calibration and safety features. And the company never stands still: some of the most recent innovations have all been about adding powered functions and inbuilt drive to trolley systems.
Reducing work-related musculoskeletal disorders The incidence and impact of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among healthcare staff has been a key concern for NHS managers and practitioners alike for many years. In fact, it is believed that work related MSDs – which include manual handling injuries – cost the NHS in the UK £400 million each year, and account for as much as 40% of all sickness absences. With the number of bariatric patients on the rise, and patients’ weights generally increasing, it seems that the problem is here to stay. So, in recent years, Anetic Aid’s designers have been focused on evolving products that combine manoeuvrability with powered assistance. All the latest models of the QA4 now have powered functions as standard, raising and lowering the platform and backrest, as well as traverse and lateral tilt.
In 2016, there was a major advance with the company’s flagship product – the QA3 Patient and Emergency Stretcher. Models of the QA3 can be found in more than 90% of NHS hospitals across the UK – and it is known for its manoeuvrability and reliability. But our engineers took this to a new level with the incorporation of an inbuilt motorised drive function, offering controlled, effortless travel up to gradients of 10°. This was in addition to powered functions including KneeFlex and a button to swiftly and automatically return the trolley to a horizontal, optimal height position for CPR treatment.
The most recent addition to the company’s
portfolio is a dedicated Ophthalmic Stretcher which combines all of the innovations of powered positioning with a specially designed dual-articulating headrest.
JANUARY 2023
Anetic Aid’s CEO, Guy Schofield, commented: “We are constantly striving to take our products to the next level, and the introduction of powered positioning for trolleys and stretchers was a very natural progression in engineering terms. The integration of the controls and electronics for a ‘drive-assisted’ function was far more complicated. We had to create a system that was intuitive for the user, offering virtually no effort to move the trolley, while still giving them full control. Add to that, it was important to retain aspects like good ground clearance and excellent manoeuvrability – so a challenge indeed – and I am really proud that we have achieved it!” Sales director, Andrew Curtin (who has been with the company for nearly 40 years), added: “Adoption of same-day surgery has increased steadily over the past 25 years – from 15% to 70% in the United Kingdom between 1989 and 2003 alone. Although a challenge for some, it is increasingly seen as the way forward, and we like to think we have played our part in that. “With the ever-present pressure to reduce waiting times, it is one way that Trusts can expand the number of procedures they carry out because of the increased throughput it allows and, of course, there are the added benefits of reduced lifting and handling for
patients and practitioners alike. “One recent success story we learned about came from Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust. They use our QA4 Mobile Surgery System, and a recent move to make day case the default approach to many elective procedures – including those in main theatres – has enabled the team to increase the annual number of day cases from 4,000 to 6,000.
“In all, the last 50 years have been quite a journey – both for us and our many clients. Anetic Aid was still the ‘new kid on the block’ when I joined back in 1983, working out of an old, converted chapel in Guiseley. My colleagues and I have always taken great pride in promoting innovative UK designed and produced products – we’ve certainly come a long way!”
For enquiries: Anetic Aid Ltd. Sales Office
T: +44 01943 878647 E:
sales@aneticaid.com
www.aneticaid.com
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