Industry partnership leads to award-winning and life-changing patient outcome
Having grabbed attention and an award at this year’s National Association of Equipment Providers (NAEP) Annual Conference for its new hybrid mattress, Herida Healthcare explained how a complex patient case and unique industry collaboration led to its creation.
Picking up the Innovative Product of the Year Award at the NAEP conference, the company launched its new Herida Yorkshire pressure-relieving mattress at the event to the delight of the two-year-old company.
The history behind the Yorkshire
Discussing the history of the new product, Neil Smith, Herida’s CEO and head of the company’s research and development team, told THIIS that it was first created to tackle a specific and complex patient case.
The company was approached by both the Moving & Handing and Tissue Viability Services to help try and find a solution for a patient who had been involved in severe pressure damage and experienced lots of different support surface exposure.
“We have been able to launch a highly credible, cost-effective solution, for very high risk and complex patients, with severe and existing pressure damage, alongside our partners of this specific project at Permobil.” Neil Smith
With a large range of support surfaces from various manufacturers having been unsuccessfully tested, Neil says Herida decided to explore a solution that it was still in the stages of developing.
At the time of the request, Herida was trying to bring to market a product that could house Permobil’s proven Roho technology and combine it with some the very high-risk foam benefits of Herida’s Avon range of mattresses explained Neil.
According to the company, the combination of the technologies worked effectively, leading to the new hybrid mattress.
“After discussing the case with the Lead Tissue Viability Nurse and Moving & Handling expert involved, alongside the teams at both Permobil & Herida, we all felt it was appropriate to drive the project forward and this would be an ideal case study to try and help the patient concerned and importantly her quality of life,” continued Neil.
“Thankfully, with appropriate supervision, the results turned out to be a great success.”
And the award goes to…
Following the clinical evaluation, the Herida team accelerated the final stages to mass production, deciding to launch the new mattress at the annual conference.
Furthermore, Herida’s Marketing Manager Dani Sharp took the decision to enter the Yorkshire into Innovative Product of the Year category.
Accepting the award from Jean Hutfield, Chair of N.A.E.P, Neil told us: “I’d like to thank the delegates who actually voted for this prestigious and highly recognised award and of course the organisers of N.A.E.P, who work so hard to bring the event to reality every year.
“I’m so pleased that against such stiff competition, they felt the need to vote for the Herida Yorkshire.”
In particular, Neil gave special recognition towards the supervising Tissue Viability Nurse, Maria Hughes and Moving & Handling expert, Margaret Huxley, both of whom led the case and of Wirral Community NHS Trust. Additionally, he thanked Chris Shine, Key Account Manager & Gordon Cunningham, General Manager, both of Permobil UK.
“The Herida team, led by Sue Dolman – National Sales Manager, along with Dani Sharp – Marketing Manager and Donna McQuire – Business & Clinical Manager also played a key function in this product development process,” added Neil.
“It’s also important to recognise that local support was on offer from various Leeds business organisation, such as the Economic Development Fund and Manufacturing Growth programmes. Through all of these people and organisations working together, this importantly helped deliver a solution for this lady involved, who I’m delighted to say was extremely grateful.”
Highlighting that importance of the award, Neil finished: “Equally important is the fact we have been able to launch a highly credible, cost-effective solution, for very high risk and complex patients, with severe and existing pressure damage, alongside our partners of this specific project at Permobil.
“This award also helps recognise Yorkshire industry and nursing excellence working together to achieve true innovation in often technologically and clinically demanding environments.”
