Shares digital

The shares of International Medical Devices (INT:AIM) were boosted 8% to 2.6p after it won an endorsement to sell its retractable needle across the National Health Service. Starting in April, the NHS will market the needle to all 280 NHS Trusts through its approved product list.

It is hoped that use of the retractable needle will reduce the number of accidents involving staff accidentally ‘sticking’ themselves. Such accidents are currently causing each NHS Trust to pay out an average of £600,000 a year to injured staff. This includes eight nurses who have contracted HIV.

The retractable needles operate by releasing the needle when it needs to be used and then retracting into a protective housing when it is no longer in use. To prevent the risk of infection, it is only possible to use the needle once, and an automatic, tamper-proof locking device has been added to the needle to ensure that this is the case.

Chief executive, Bill McGrath, says the needle is simple to operate and price competitive. First orders for the needle are expected in the second quarter of this year.

Shares says: A promising deal which should prove fruitful.