News: Marsden scales up with acquisition

Rotherham-based medical device market leader, Marsden Group, is targeting future growth within international and UK healthcare markets following the acquisition of specialist surgical instruments and medical device manufacturer Bailey Instruments.

The acquisition of Manchester-based Bailey Instruments will complement and strengthen Marsden Group’s international growth strategy, by expanding the company’s existing range of high quality medical instruments which are used by medical professionals operating within the UK’s public and private healthcare sectors.

The deal will see the Bailey Instruments brand retained by Marsden Group, with Chairman Tim Bailey playing a consultancy role within the business. Fellow Director Gemma Bailey will remain actively involved within Bailey Instruments and will be responsible for leading Bailey’s international growth.

Launched in 1989 by Tim and Sally Bailey, Bailey Instruments developed high quality re-usable products for the podiatry sector. Today the company is responsible for manufacturing a diverse range of single-use and reusable medical devices which are used in general surgery, podiatry, maternity and ENT.

Bailey’s high quality, comprehensive instrument portfolio will complement and strengthen Marsden Group’s international business and provide further access to global healthcare markets. Moreover, Bailey will also strengthen Marsden Group’s ability to diversify into fast growing markets.

With its headquarters at Templeborough, Marsden Group already offers a range of proven medical devices to help healthcare professionals deliver high quality assessment in hospitals, care homes and community settings. The company is perhaps best known for its pioneering work within weighing devices, used as an essential monitoring and diagnostic tool.

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Mark Holdaway, CEO for the Marsden Group, said: "There is a great deal of synergy between the innovative work being delivered by Bailey Instruments and the Marsden Group. The acquisition of Bailey Instruments will provide new opportunities for both businesses, by extending and diversifying the range of solutions we provide to our customers within the healthcare sector.

“The acquisition will provide new opportunities for both businesses, both in terms of investing in research and development, bringing new products to market, as well as building on their expertise, experience and manufacturing capabilities, as we target future growth.

Tim Bailey, Chairman of Bailey Instruments, added: “Joining the Marsden Group of companies will provide us with an opportunity to continue the innovative work we have been delivering in the healthcare sector for nearly 40 years. Together, we will continue to enable caregivers to make a real difference to patient outcomes everywhere.

“When we first entered into discussions it was very clear that our vision was very much aligned with that of the Marsden Group and I am confident that the acquisition will provide opportunities to share our expertise and knowledge, helping to improve patient outcomes by continuing to invest and innovate, whilst crucially providing business continuity as well as helping to unlock new opportunities to grow and develop our operations.

Established in 1926, Marsden is the UK’s leading manufacturer of medical weighing devices and has been responsible for delivering services to the NHS for more than 50 years. The company employs 50 members of staff.

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News: Queen’s Award success lifts growth for weighing specialist

A Rotherham-based healthcare and industrial manufacturing company has successfully signed up five new international distributors across Europe and South East Asia since their Queen’s Award win for the Marsden Patient Transfer Scale.

The presentation of the award was made to Chief Executive, Mark Holdaway, during a special visit to Marsden by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, Mr Andrew Coombe, who presented the company with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation. The presentation was also attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Rotherham as well as the local Chamber of Commerce.

Marsden earned the prestigious award, in recognition for the work undertaken to pioneer and develop the unique Patient Transfer Scale, which helps to ensure an accurate weight is taken prior to vital life-saving treatment for patients admitted to hospital.

Rothbiz reported on the award success for the Templeborough firm in April.

Co-invented by nurse Gillian Taylor, Marsden worked with its partners including Scottish Health Innovations Limited and NHS Lanarkshire to develop Gillian’s original idea and successfully launched it in 2018. Today, the product can be found in more than 65% of all NHS Trusts across the UK and it is also sold worldwide.

The success of Marsden’s Patient Transfer Scale has coincided with a significant period of growth for the business and has also seen the company create a number of new roles within the business, including the appointment of a new Product and Commercial Director, who will be responsible for developing more new innovative products within the healthcare sector.

Following the success enjoyed with its Patient Transfer Scale, Marsden has also recently launched a new portable weighing scale, designed to help community-based nurses and health visitors take accurate weight measurements of wheelchair-bound patients.

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Mark Holdaway, Chief Executive, Marsden said: “Receiving the Queen’s Award for Enterprise from the Lord Lieutenant was, without doubt, the highlight of a very special year for Marsden, one which saw us celebrate our 95th anniversary.

“The success of the Patient Transfer Scale is the result of the observations of a nurse, who spotted an opportunity to solve a patient care problem. Working with our partners we were able to help her transform her initial idea into a highly effective product which helps thousands of healthcare workers across the world to obtain accurate weights for critically ill patients, enabling potentially life-saving medication to be administered. Gillian Taylor continues to work as a Clinical Consultant for Marsden to help engage and support UK and international customers.

“Since securing the Queen’s Award, we’ve not rested on our laurels. We have enjoyed a significant period of growth enabling us to invest in expanding internationally, bring new products to market, create new jobs and ultimately help healthcare professionals to deliver a better patient experience.”

Mr Andrew Coombe, Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire said: “The Queen’s Award for Enterprise was created to recognise the outstanding achievements of businesses across the UK and with a long history of innovation and the success Marsden has achieved with its Patient Transfer Scale, the award is well deserved.

“Marsden is a terrific example of the incredible work which is being undertaken by the manufacturing sector in South Yorkshire. The success they have enjoyed is helping to showcase the incredible work being undertaken by businesses across the region.”

Established in 1926, Marsden specialises in producing a range of bespoke weighing solutions to the healthcare, veterinary and industrial sectors. In 2001 the company opened a dedicated manufacturing facility within Rotherham and is a member of the UK Weighing Federation and is accredited by SGS Limited.

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News: Marsden secures Queen's Award for Innovation

A Rotherham-based medical device company which helped an A&E nurse to realise the potential in her idea to administer potentially life-saving treatment has been awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation.

The award was secured by Marsden in recognition of the work the company has undertaken in developing a unique Patient Transfer Scale, which is used to provide accurate weight measurements when a patient is admitted to hospital. Launched in 2018, today, the Marsden Patient Transfer Scale is used in 65% of all NHS Trusts across the UK and also sold worldwide.

Rothbiz reported in 2018 how the innovative product was developed when a nurse called Gillian Taylor witnessed first-hand the discomfort and delays to treatment caused when medical staff attempted to weigh immobile patients using traditional hoists.

When a patient suffers a stroke or is diagnosed with sepsis it is vital for medication to be administered as quickly as possible. However, before treatment can begin a patient must be weighed to identify the correct dosage required. It was recognised that cumbersome hoists could lead to delays in the time taken for a patient to receive treatment. Drawing on her nursing expertise, Gillian was determined to do something to try and solve the problem.

NICE Guidelines require every patient to be weighed when they are admitted to hospital and reviewed regularly during treatment. Gillian hit on hit on the idea of combining a weighing device with a patient transfer board, used when moving a patient from a trolley to a hospital bed after looking at the thin weighing scales she used in her kitchen.

After developing a prototype of the invention, Marsden was approached for help in realising the potential offered by the unique product which enables accurate weight readings to be taken within a matter a seconds, helping to reduce delays in life-saving medication being administered.

Marsden, which has its HQ at Templeborough, refined the design and secured the vital Class III certification, enabling the product to be sold in NHS and EU hospitals. Today, the Patient Transfer Scale can weigh patients up to 250kg (39 stone) and provides accurate readings up to 500g and following its launch, the invention is today being sold around the world.

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Gillian Taylor, Clinical Consultant and inventor of the Patient Transfer Scale (pictured), said: “As a nurse I realised when it came to treating conditions like strokes and sepsis, every second really does count and there was clear need to weigh patients quickly to enable treatment to begin as promptly as possible.

“When patients are admitted to hospital, getting accurate weight measurements is vital because it determines the amount of medication needed. I first began thinking about this when I saw my young son and one of his friends playing together. Under the guidelines of the time, the medication prescribed to children was based upon formulas, determined by their age. It struck me that there was such a significant difference in the height and weight of the two children that it could potentially lead to incorrect dosages being administered and so I began thinking about ways in which patients could be weighed quickly and more effectively.

“I looked at my kitchen scales and had something of a lightbulb moment. During my research, I began to realise the invention could have other practical uses within a hospital and after developing a prototype we approached Marsden, to see whether they could help transform the idea into a product capable of saving lives.

“The support I’ve received from Marsden has been incredible and I feel incredibly proud that as a result of all our collaborative efforts, the scales I imagined are now being used to help patients across the world. I’ve been amazed by the positive reaction and I feel incredibly honoured that our work has been recognised by the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation.”

Mark Holdaway, Chief Executive Officer, Marsden, said: “Marsden has a long history of innovation in the healthcare sector and when we were approached with the original idea, we knew it could potentially be a product which would change the way in which patients were treated across the world.

“We felt the Patient Transfer Scale could act as a catalyst towards driving positive change within a healthcare environment. The need for healthcare professionals to obtain accurate weights is not only vital when it comes to delivering appropriate care, but helps to eliminate the guessing of patient weights in cases where traditional hoists cannot be used.

“The invention is a genuine first for the healthcare industry and a product which will clearly help to save lives, abide with NICE guidelines and ensure better patient outcomes are achieved. The success the product has enjoyed is a testament to the hard work, determination and passion which has driven the development of the product, one which was borne from the idea of an experienced nurse, who understood the challenges and limitations of existing solutions and was determined to do something about it. I’m thrilled that our collective work has resulted in a Queen’s Award, but of course, we’re keen not to rest on our laurels and we hope to ensure that even more hospitals and healthcare providers will be able to benefit from this truly unique product.”

Now in its 55th year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the country, with winning businesses able to use the esteemed Queen’s Awards emblem for the next five years.

Established in 1926, Marsden specialises in producing a range of bespoke weighing solutions to the healthcare, veterinary and industrial sectors. In 2001 the company opened a dedicated manufacturing facility within Rotherham and is a member of the UK Weighing Federation and is accredited by SGS Limited. Long-time family shareholders stepped away from the company in 2019 when it was sold to Alcuin Capital Partners.

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News: Marsden to scale up growth following sale

Rotherham-based Marsden Weighing Group has been sold to Alcuin Capital Partners, and the management team, led by managing director Richard Black.

Based at Templeborough, Marsden manufactures a wide range of weighing scales and devices that are used in hospitals, veterinary surgeries and in industry. It provides a bespoke weighing scale manufacturing service to 23 countries worldwide.

The complex deal sees the long-time family shareholders step away from the company.

Richard Black, managing director of Marsden, said: "I'm excited for the future and the opportunity to drive this business through its next stage of growth alongside Alcuin. I would like to thank RSM and EMW for their hard work and professionalism in getting the deal over the line."

Nick Seaman, partner at Alcuin Capital Partners, added: "Marsden is going through an exciting period of growth having recently launched a unique product to the global medical market.This represents the first of an exciting pipeline of NPD.

"We are delighted to be supporting the business to take both these new products and their existing product base to the NHS and healthcare organisations globally."

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Two separate teams at law firm, EMW, advised the exiting shareholders and the new management team on this transaction.

Gurpreet Sanghera, partner at EMW, said: "A key objective for the retiring family shareholders was that this transition allows Marsden to continue to grow its strong brand reputation within the UK and globally. With Richard continuing to lead the management team, supported by Alcuin as strategic partner they have certainly achieved this.

"This is an exciting time for Marsden as they embark on the global launch of their market leading product. It was an absolute pleasure to be part of this deal team and we look forward to continuing to work with Marsden on future projects."

RSM's M&A and Private Equity team advised the exiting shareholders of Marsden and Castle Corporate Finance advised the incumbent management team on the terms being offered by Alcuin.

Clodagh Tunney, corporate finance director for RSM, said: "It’s been a pleasure working with the Marsden shareholders to help them achieve their exit aspirations and to find a partner to support the continued growth of the business. We wish the shareholders, Alcuin and the management team all the best as they start this new chapter."

Rothbiz reported last year that Marsden had successfully brought to market a unique, revolutionary idea that could change the way immobile patients are weighed.

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News: Marsden manufactures future of patient weighing

A Rotherham-based manufacturer has helped to realise a unique, revolutionary idea that could change the way immobile patients are weighed.

Based at Templeborough, Marsden manufactures a wide range of weighing scales and devices that are used in hospitals, veterinary surgeries and in industry.

A leading supplier of medical weighing equipment to NHS hospitals, Marsden has been working on a brand new weighing scale since 2016. The Patient Transfer Scale (PTS) was invented by Scottish clinician Gillian Taylor and is designed to accurately weigh immobile patients when traditional weighing scales are unsuitable.

Support from Scottish Health Innovations Limited (SHIL), NHS Lanarkshire (where Gillian worked as an Emergency Department nurse) and Marsden helped her make the idea a reality. SHIL works in partnership with NHS Scotland to identify, protect, develop and commercialise new ideas from healthcare professionals.

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Over ten years ago, Taylor was working in the Emergency Department of University Hospital Monklands near Glasgow and was becoming increasingly frustrated by the difficulties of weighing immobile patients. She watched as critical patients arrived in hospital, unable to move and needing medication or treatment as fast as possible, yet weighing them to calculate drug dosages was too difficult or time consuming.

Her idea - which was presented to Marsden in 2016, was to weigh patients at the point where they are laterally transferred from trolley to bed. When a patient arrives in hospital on a trolley, they are almost always transferred to a bed using a transfer slide, or transfer board. Gillian's idea was to create a transfer slide with an in-built weighing scale.

Marsden is now manufacturing a new flat weighing scale, which is thin, lightweight, simplistic, easy to use and which can be kept hygienic.

Gillian Taylor, inventor of the Patient Transfer Scale (PTS), said: "When working in the Emergency Department a child came in with injuries to his legs. Pain control was difficult as an accurate weight was required to support treatment. Patients with sepsis faced a similar issue, with rapid weighing need to ensure an accurate dosage of antibiotics.

"I had the idea of transforming a plastic transfer board into a set of scales which would transfer and weigh the patient simultaneously. I knew getting an accurate weight quickly could save lives, so with the support of SHIL I put my idea into action.

"By moving and weighing the patient at the same time, the PTS improves patient outcomes, without increasing workload, offering significant benefit to both patient and staff."

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The new product has the necessary approvals (all Marsden professional medical scales are Class III Approved) and has been tested in over 30 hospitals. It is patented in the UK and patents are pending in the EU and US.

Having officially been launched, the PTS is being supplied by Marsden and its distributors.

PTS is suitable not just for Emergency Departments, but throughout the hospital where a patient is immobile and needs to be weighed. Stroke, Cardiology, Sepsis, Spinal, Head Injury, Renal, ICU, HDU, X-ray, Theatres and Palliative wards for example.

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