Medical refrigeration business ramps up production to assist NHS
A Merseyside company has ramped up production at its purpose-built facility in Prescot following a surge in demand for its medical refrigeration products caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Lec Medical, which has been supplying the NHS for more than 20 years, has reported an increase in both international and domestic sales of its medical refrigeration units, driven by the creation of temporary hospitals, additional wards and increased reliance on community pharmacies.
New sales enquiries have been received from Europe and Australasia, driven by the pandemic, as well as higher than usual UK demand for its pharmacy refrigeration range, which is designed for the storage of temperature-sensitive medicines and vaccines in pharmacies, GP surgeries, clinics and hospital wards, plus portable units for community care teams.
Lec Medical, which moved to a new state-of-the-art facility at parent company Glen Dimplex Home Appliances’ UK headquarters in Prescot, has increased production of its pharmaceutical refrigeration units and has introduced contactless kerbside delivery to protect its NHS customers.
It has been able to react quickly to deliver a significant number of pharmacy fridges to the new NHS Nightingale hospital at the Excel Centre in London and is expected to supply to other NHS Nightingale hospitals in the coming days, as well other COVID-19 laboratories and wards across the UK.
In addition, the company is to donate a fridge to a Ministry of Defence test centre in the South of England to help in the fight against coronavirus and has pledged its support to the UK Government’s appeal for manufacturers to assist with the production and design of much-needed medical equipment.
Mike Butt, managing director at Lec Medical, said: “On top of the increased demand for our products driven by the approaching flu season, the impact of COVID-19 is driving an unprecedented number of enquiries.
“As a UK manufacturer we are fortunate that we have been able to respond quickly, increasing production whilst ensuring we observe social distancing guidelines within our production site.
“We have plenty of product in stock and readily available, and our UK customer service team is working around the clock to get deliveries out to under-pressure NHS customers as quickly as possible.
“We also hope that the UK Government will be able to make use of our manufacturing expertise in coordinating its response to the COVID-19 crisis.”
