Inditherm lands biggest NHS order

The Aim-listed company said it will supply more than 30 complete patient warming systems to the unnamed hospital's operating theatres.

The systems use Inditherm's energy efficient polymer technology.

Implementation will begin in April and will allow all patients undergoing surgery in the hospital to be warmed automatically as soon as they reach the operating table.

The hospital trust hopes the contract will lead to annual cost savings of around 200,000 and reduce environmental impact at the same time.

The company said the technology helps hospitals to meet the guidelines on hypothermia during surgery.

Traditional patient warming systems such as disposable blankets and forced warm air blowers are putting a significant extra burden on budgets, it added.

In comparison, Inditherm said its system ensures that surgical patients can be warmed at the same running cost as a light-bulb.

Nick Bettles, the chief executive, said: "This order comes at the end of an exhaustive evaluation and procurement exercise.

"Inditherm is the only manufacturer of specialist patient warming systems in the UK, and while the clinical considerations are always the driving factor behind any decision to change, it is good to find a British technology that delivers financial and environmental savings at the same time.

"Sometimes customers think the benefits our product can offer are too good to be true, but we have more than 50 NHS hospitals using the system now who can confirm that there isn't a catch.

"At a time of severe budget constraints we hope that many other NHS trusts will also take up the opportunity to substantially reduce costs and at the same time measurably improve patient care."

The deal comes at a good time for the business, which sunk to a deeper annual loss of 1.1m last year, compared to a loss of 324,000 the previous year.

Inditherm blamed the tough economic climate and restrained spending within hospitals for the financial performance.

The company also makes heating systems for the chemical and food industries.