The Welsh Wound Innovation Centre, a new global centre of excellence in wound prevention and treatment, has announced details of its first commercial partnership. Direct Healthcare Services will collaborate with the Welsh Wound Innovation Centre on product research and development. The firm will also benefit from access to the Centre’s education facilities and world-leading clinical expertise.
Direct Healthcare Services was last year recognised in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 as the 17th fastest growing business in the UK, which has been attributed to its innovative approach in supporting NHS Trusts with initiatives to reduce pressure wounds in patients.
The Welsh Wound Innovation Centre’s Medical Director Professor Keith Harding has described wounds as a silent epidemic that represents a growing burden for our healthcare resources. Pressure wounds currently cost the NHS ￡1-2 billion per year in treatment and blocked beds.
Wound healing has been identified as a niche speciality in the Welsh Government¹s ￡100m fund to boost the Life Sciences sector, leading to the Welsh Wound Innovation Centre’s establishment in 2013. The centre, located in Llantrisant, acts as a focus for research, clinical and commercial excellence in wound prevention and treatment. It has a strong focus on job creation and business development, and delivers a full range of clinical research and knowledge transfer services to NHS and commercial customers.
Managing Director of Direct Healthcare Services, Graham Ewart, said: “As an SME, having access to world-class resources and expertise will be absolutely essential as we look to continue our growth. We have ambitious plans to create more jobs as we expand into more territories and our collaboration with the Welsh Wound Innovation Centre will be critical to this strategy.
“Having access to the phenomenal resources and expertise available in the facility at Llantrisant, particularly to support innovative product development and export visits from potential new global distributors, will be invaluable.”