The High Wycombe healthcare manufacturer was presented with the award under the Innovation category for its S-Cath™ System; a breakthrough technology that prevents injuries from occurring.

The S-Cath™ System uses the Seldinger technique to facilitate a one tract entry into the bladder allowing clinicians to perform a safer introduction of a suprapubic catheter. The innovative device, which was designed ‘hand in hand’ with clinicians, offers a more controlled, accurate and precise placement into the bladder.

Currently, a suprapubic catheterisation is performed in an operating theatre under general anaesthetic with clinicians using a ‘blind’ percutaneous trocar puncture to gain entry into the bladder. Instead the S-Cath™ System locates the bladder with a patented safety guide wire, improving placement and guarantees insertion of the trocar along the anesthetised track.

A wide range of patient benefits

This technique also offers a wide range of patient benefits such as minimal trauma and tissue damage as less pressure is needed to insert the dilator. It is also more comfortable and less stressful for the clinician to perform, as it provides them with a higher degree of control and accurate placement.

For patients, it means they only need to attend a 30-minute appointment slot in clinic, reducing treatment time from 2.3 days to 22 minutes. It also decreases the risks associated with standard ‘blind’ entry methods which have 19%* risk of complications and 1.9% risk of mortality in the UK alone.

Speaking about the award, Emma Gray, Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to win such a prestigious award for our contribution to urology. The S Cath™ System is a breakthrough solution that reduces the risk of harm to patients, whilst simultaneously raising the standard of patient care and safety.

“Many clinicians say it offers them greater confidence in inserting the trocar into the bladder describing it as a GPS for the bladder. It also offers UK hospitals huge savings in terms of money, time and resources.”

The S-Cath™ System has been used in the UK for six years. During this time, the UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and The British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) have both published guidelines encouraging the adoption of S-Cath™ System into routine care. S-Cath™ System is just being launched in the USA while other European distributors are being sought.

Family business focuses on patient-centric products

Mediplus, a family business, has been supplying the healthcare sector with innovative patient centric products for over 30 years. The company, who specialise in Urology and Anaesthesia products, now employs 60 people with many of their products manufactured at the Mediplus facilities in the UK.

The Queens awards are presented each year by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on her birthday, 21st April, on the advice of the Prime Minister, assisted by an Advisory Committee comprising representatives of Government, industry, commerce and the trade unions.

This is the second time Mediplus have been awarded a Queens Award for Enterprise. In 2013 they were awarded the Queens Award - International Trade.