Clinically proven to double the rate chronic wound healing the geko™ device is now available through the UK NHS Supply Chain. This, says the manufacturer, makes the device instantly more widely available and easy to order. The Supply Chain manages the sourcing, delivery and supply of healthcare products and services for NHS trusts and healthcare organisations across England and Wales.
Background
Approximately 3.8 million adults in the UK suffer with a chronic wound, according to reports. Many are classified as hard-to-heal. Moreover, despite following best practice, wound healing can be prolonged or often never achieved. Patients experience pain, anxiety, altered body image and isolation. This can leave many without hope of improvement, suffering wound infections and recurrence. Furthermore the financial burden of non-healing wounds on hard pressed healthcare systems is also huge. In fact it’s higher than for cancer and cardiovascular disease with the annual NHS cost estimated at £8.3 billion annually
UK-based medical device manufacturer Firstkind Ltd, is a subsidiary of Sky Medical Technology Ltd. A past visitor to our pages, its geko device is a small, self-adhesive, wearable neuromuscular electro stimulator. The device is applied to the surface of the skin just below the knee, over the head of the fibula bone. It delivers a gentle electrical pulse, once per second to the common peroneal nerve. This in turn activates the calf and foot muscle pumps, increasing venous, arterial and microvascular flow. In effect the system replicates exercise. Indeed by transporting oxygenated blood to the wound bed and edge it is claimed to accelerate wound healing.
Clinical support for geko in chronic wound healing
A recent RCT in the International Wound Journal (IWJ) compared standard of care (SoC) with and without the geko device in patients with hard-to-heal venous leg ulcers (VLUs). The rate of healing was more than doubled in patients treated with the geko device versus SoC alone.
The results also show the geko device is well tolerated with 94% patient concordance.
Company comments
Bernard Ross, CEO and Founder of Sky Medical Technology:
“We’re delighted to be listed on the NHS Supply Chain,” said . “Our mission is to end the misery of hard-to-heal wounds and to transform patient lives. Key to this is ensuring the geko device is widely available and easy to order, allowing wound care clinicians to direct their precious time and resources to patient care.”
Fiona Young, Wound Therapy Business Director at Firstkind Ltd.:
“Introducing change to clinical practice and new models of care is the greatest opportunity we have to reduce NHS costs and carbon emissions. The transformative geko device delivers on both these fronts.
“Now with this wider access, through the NHS Supply Chain, geko device ease of ordering will further help NHS wound care nurses reduce the time managing wounds.”
published: May 2, 2024 in: News, Wound Care