News: Inditherm secure MOD contract

Innovative Rotherham company, Inditherm has received an order from the Ministry of Defence to supply a total of thirty patient warming systems to the RAF.

Based in Manvers, Inditherm's energy efficient polymer technology is used in heating mattresses, pipework, sports pitches, storage vessels and medical treatments. Their use by the Royal Air Force (RAF) Aeromedical Evacuation Service will provide the capability to help prevent hypothermia in all patient transfers.

The Inditherm warming systems will be used by the RAF Critical Care Air Support Teams (CCAST) during transport of critically ill or injured personnel, typically from conflict zones and remote operational locations back to the UK. The RAF clinicians and Inditherm have worked closely together to ensure that the systems are customised to exactly meet the specialist needs of transferring patients in the aircraft environment.

The order follows an exhaustive testing and flight approvals process with the system now allocated NATO stock numbers. The warming mattresses will be used on the Boeing C-17 Globemaster and Airbus A330 aircraft and forms part of a project to provide best possible care for injured military personnel during the transfer back to the UK for further treatment.

Inditherm patient warming is already in use with the British Army, with systems deployed in active conflict zones, and has received very positive feedback from returning clinicians. Other users include the French and Spanish armies, Norwegian Navy and New Zealand Air Force, underlining the suitability of Inditherm products for military applications.

Nick Bettles, chief executive at Inditherm, said: "We are delighted to be working with the RAF to help with providing best medical care for British troops. We are optimistic that the wider and more visible use of our product with the RAF will attract the attention of other NATO medical teams and help to grow our business in the acute transport and rescue markets."

Inditherm website

Images: raf.mod.uk