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Wound treatment breakthrough could save NHS £125m a year

A NEW treatment for chronic wounds, developed in the Cheshire-based Crawford Healthcare and the University of Manchester, could save the NHS more than £125m a year in the fight against antibiotic resistance.

With more than 5,000 major limb amputations taking place each year in England at a cost of about £25,000 per operation, Crawford’s new silver-based wound dressing KerraContact Ag – developed in partnership with the University of Manchester – has prevented a near certain leg amputation at an NHS hospital following the failure of traditional antibiotic treatment.

The development comes just weeks after the government-commissioned Northern Powerhouse Independent Economic Review identified healthcare innovation as a world-leading capability of the North of England.

“This is a real coup for Life Sciences in the North and is a spectacular example of how innovation in healthcare can be a key driver in the success of the Northern Powerhouse,” said Crawford chief executive Richard Anderson.

“The dressing involved, along with those in our R&D pipeline, is the first to feature our new Oxysalt technology, which the University of Manchester has found to be the most clinically effective to date. Not only will it transform the way the NHS cares for patients, but it will ensure vital savings, reduce the devastating oversubscription of antibiotics and, ultimately, improve lives.” Read More