We are delighted to announce that Airglove is now available in the UK and Europe and soon to be launched worldwide. Peripheral venous cannulation is among one of the most common medical procedures and is one of the most basic yet critical components of patient care both in hospital and in ambulatory patient settings.  However this can be difficult to access especially with patients who are going through extended courses of treatment such as chemotherapy where repeated cannulation is often required.

When we first visited The Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust quite a few years ago we would see buckets of warm water being carried about the wards by nurses. These buckets of water had no real temperature control or timescale but were to try and raise the veins in some of the most vulnerable patients who had the most difficult veins to access. Unfortunately, this practise is still happening across many hospitals in the UK as there was no real innovation or medical device available. Paula Tinniswood who was the General Manger at Maidstone hospital saw this happening on the wards and was compelled to come up with an original concept to help cancer patients.

Out of this Airglove was inspired and working with NHS Innovations South East and The Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, Gio Benedetti, serial entrepreneur took Paula’s initial concept and through design, prototypes and trials developed Airglove over the past 5 years. Today at The Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust using buckets of warm water is now a thing of the past. After a successful service evaluation trial on their hardest to cannulate patients they now use Airglove every day. The trial achieved 87.5% success with 1st time cannulation which not only saves on consumable waste but gives their patients a much more comfortable experience.

“We no longer use buckets of warm water in oncology at Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust as our patients request Airglove now as they prefer it. With a 87.5% success rate in our patient service evaluation I can see the results which make our lives so much easier too” Keli Tomlin, Macmillan Chemotherapy Unit Manager, MTW

Gio Benedetti was delighted to present at the end of May 3 brand new Airglove units to Keli and Charlotte at the Charles Dickens ward, The Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust to thank them for all their hard work and dedication with Airglove.

Throughout the development and trial process we have exhibited Airglove at many medical exhibitions in the UK and abroad.  It was also Highly Commended at the prestigious industry collaboration awards at the WMAHSN Celebration of Innovation Awards 20th July 2017 and was Runner Up in the Medilink West Midlands Medical & Healthcare Business Awards “Partnership with the NHS” category in January 2018.

With the launch of Airglove in June we are receiving enquiries every week for demonstrations, trial units and orders along with some very encouraging comments from professionals such as radiologists as they know the venous access issue only too well. However it doesn’t stop there as patients in many other areas out with oncology require heated cannulation so we look forward to spreading the Airglove news.

If you would like to purchase Airglove, have a demonstration or a 4 week trial in the UK call 0330 120 0402 or email sheena.jack@greencrossmedico.com

To become an Airglove distributor (excl. UK) email info@greencrossmedico.com