Inspiration in talks with NHS over device to help new-borns

Medical supplier Inspiration Healthcare is in talks with the NHS about its new LifeStart device which can help resuscitate newborn babies.

The Rotherham-based company is planning further clinical trials for the device and has high hopes for future sales.

Inspiration’s chief executive Neil Campbell said: “We are really excited about LifeStart. We can help a very sick baby before the cord is cut. LifeStart allows the baby to be resuscitated right next to mum and dad with the umbilical cord still intact. It’s very different to a paediatrician taking the baby away.”

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Clinicians are currently looking into the benefits of deferred umbilical cord clamping and there are ongoing clinical trials.

Inspiration, which bought medical firm Inditherm through a reverse acquisition last June, is also working on a heated mattress to warm up patients during surgery.

Its third new product can cool and heat babies. If a baby is deprived of oxygen at birth, cooling it down can reduce the risk of cerebral palsy.

Following the takeover of Inditherm, Inspiration now employs 65 people and Mr Campbell said the group is looking to boost this by 10 per cent over the next 18 months.

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He was speaking as the firm reported ​underlying revenue growth of 15​ per cent in the year to January 31​.

It swung to a pre-tax loss of £280,000 after booking an impairment charge and exceptional costs relating to the Inditherm acquisition.

Underlying revenue rose from £11.4m to £13.1m.

The company said its new financial year has started well and it has strong recurring revenue.

Chairman Mark Abrahams said: “It is pleasing to see how much progress has been made in the enlarged group. The complementary product ranges and routes to market, together with a strong balance sheet, provide a solid foundation for the progress we expect to continue across the business this year.”

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Analyst Eric Burns at WH Ireland said: “These are the first full year numbers to include the enlarged business post the combination of Inspiration with Inditherm last year and they show growth across all sectors.

“We increase our current year revenue expectations very slightly to £14.3m and have upgraded our pre-tax profit expectation from £1.1m to £1.2m.”

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