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Kent Company, Bedfont® Scientific Ltd, reveals New Well-being Garden, Nurturing Employee Wellness and Biodiversity

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Bedfont® opens a new wellness space for encouraging a carbon conscious approach and memorialising loved ones

Bedfont® proudly announces the successful transformation of unused space into a Wellbeing Garden. This innovative initiative not only underlines Bedfont’s commitment to its employees’ wellness but also champions environmental conservation through biodiversity efforts. The garden, crafted using 90% reclaimed materials, serves as a touching memorial to lost loved ones.

Bedfont® encourages a healthy work-life balance and the Wellbeing Garden is a testament to this ethos, designed to provide employees with a serene and revitalising space to destress, recharge, and connect with nature. The garden’s carefully curated landscape also serves as a natural habitat for local flora and fauna, contributing to the preservation of local ecosystems, thanks to its variety of flowers and vegetables, and it even has a dedicated Bat box.

Managing Director, Jason Smith, remarks, “The Wellbeing Garden holds deep sentimental value as a memorial to lost loved ones, Niki and Pat. This garden was Niki’s dream and now it is a reality, underpinning the work she did promoting wellbeing for the Bedfont® Family. Pat, a beloved member of the Bedfont® Family and keen gardener, donated a lot of the greenery which now homes multiple ecosystems. Through this garden, not only does their memory live on, but it allows us to work towards our core value of being more Carbon Conscious, whilst providing a beautiful space for the Bedfont Family to promote wellbeing.”

Bedfont® extends its gratitude to the grant providers, Beyond Procurement, whose support made this visionary project a reality. The company remains steadfast in its commitment to nurturing a culture that prioritises employee welfare and environmental responsibility.

Bedfont® Boosts Cancer Research Fundraising Efforts with £200 Donation

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Bedfont® Scientific Ltd. helps fundraising reach £1000 for Cancer Research UK

Local Med-tech company, Bedfont® Scientific Ltd., is proudly donating £200 to support the noble fundraising efforts of its employees, the Bedfont® Family, who ran the Pretty Muddy 5K Obstacle Course on Saturday 1st July 2023, for Cancer Research UK. So far, the team have raised an inspiring £800 towards cancer research initiatives, meaning with Bedfont’s Donation the fundraising will reach an impressive £1000.

According to WHO, nearly every family globally is affected by cancer; 1 in 5 people are diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime, and the diagnosis affects the health and well-being of all those involved, including family members and caregivers1.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont®, explained, “Our Bedfont® Family has very recently been affected by cancer and it has been a really difficult year for so many of us. I am inspired by the willpower of the Pretty Muddy runners, and wish to also contribute to a cause close to all of our hearts.”

The funds raised through this run will be directed to Cancer Research UK, to help groundbreaking cancer research and patient support. To donate, please visit: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/get-involved/donate

References:

  1. Amplifying the lived experience of people affected by cancer [Internet]. World Health Organization; [cited 2023 Jul 3]. Available from: https://www.who.int/activities/amplifying-the-lived-experience-of-people-affected-by-cancer

Introducing CELLER8®: Revolutionising Wellness with PEMF Technology

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Med-tech manufacturer, Bedfont® Scientific Ltd., launches new CELLER8® PEMF device with exclusive distributor, NewMed Ltd. at the Health Optimisation Summit 2023

Bedfont®, a leading innovator in medical devices with over 40 years of manufacturing experience, proudly announces the launch of a new PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) device, CELLER8®. With NewMed Ltd. as the global exclusive distributor, the CELLER8® was introduced at the Health Optimisation Summit 2023.

CELLER8® harnesses the power of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy, using the earth’s natural magnetic waves to concentrate and send electromagnetic pulses to specific areas of the body. The underlying principle of PEMF therapy is that it aims to restore balance by supporting healthy cellular function, promoting circulatory wellness, and supporting overall health and wellness.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont®, comments, “With over 40 years of manufacturing experience from Bedfont®, and NewMed’s PEMF knowledge, we’ve combined our joint expertise and passion for driving innovation to develop a PEMF device with the user in mind. This summit is the ideal location to launch CELLER8® as the summit focuses on everything in the general health, wellbeing, nutrition, biohacking and fitness worlds.”

Andy Smith, Managing Director at NewMed, adds, “Having benefited from PEMF therapy myself, I founded NewMed to help others learn about and experience this life changing technology. I’m proud to say we’re the one-stop-shop for PEMF devices, and we’re excited to be launching the CELLER8® – it’s compact, sleek, and powerful – perfect for individuals seeking natural, non-invasive, solutions to enhance their overall health and well-being.”

The CELLER8® was launched at the Health Optimisation Summit, which took place 17th – 18th June, at the Business Design Centre, London. Visit http://www.celler8.com for more information.

World No Tobacco Day – 31st May 2023

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World No Tobacco Day is an annual awareness day that informs the public about the dangers of using tobacco1. This year’s campaign, ‘Grow food, not tobacco’, encourages the government to end tobacco growing subsidies and use the savings to support farmers to switch to more sustainable crops that improve food security and nutrition1.

Worldwide, approximately 5.89 million metric tonnes of tobacco is produced every year2, contributing to an estimated 1.1 billion active tobacco smokers worldwide3. Bedfont‘s Smokerlyzer® range has been an integral part of the post-smoking process for over 35 years. By providing users with instant Carbon Monoxide (CO) readings and a motivational traffic light system to guide them towards their quit goals, we have helped countless individuals towards their stop smoking goals and improve their overall health and well-being.

It is reported that globally in 2020, tobacco use consisted within the everyday lives of 36.7% of men and 7.8% of the world’s women4. Within the UK, data recorded that in 2020 the proportion of current smokers was 14%, fast-forward to 2021 and that statistic has seen a significant decrease, equating to 13.3%, which corresponds to an estimated 6.6 million people in the UK who are classified as current smokers5.

A study regarding the use of a CO device to quit smoking gathered 10 smokers, who of which received a CO device and were asked to use it regularly throughout the day for 6 weeks with the aim of maintaining their CO reading below 10ppm. At the 6-week follow-up, all participant’s CO concentrations were below their baseline value; two were below 10ppm. The average daily cigarette consumption reduced from 14.1 at baseline to 9.8 during the 2 weeks of daily CO monitoring, and then 9.5 at the 6-week follow-up. Concluding that the use of the CO device was generally found to be acceptable and to increase motivation to stop smoking completely, as five smokers out of the ten attempted to quit smoking6.

The Smokerlyzer® range by Bedfont® consists of 4 handheld breath analysis devices, Micro+™, piCObaby™, piCO™, and iCOquit® – each of which tests the level of CO on a smoker’s breath, which can help them understand the harmful effects that smoking has on their body. When a person smokes, they inhale carbon monoxide, which is a poisonous gas that can lead to serious health problems. The on-screen instant results for each device, coupled with the interpretation guide provided, help patients quickly identify which traffic light system bracket they fall into. This enables them to take proactive steps towards quitting smoking and improving their health.

Visit https://www.bedfont.com/smokerlyzer to learn more about how you can aid patients to stop smoking, one breath at a time, with Bedfont® Scientific Ltd’s Smokerlyzer® range.

References:

  1. World No Tobacco Day [Internet]. World Health Organization. World Health Organization; [cited 2023Apr28]. Available from: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-no-tobacco-day
  2. Shahbandeh M. Global tobacco production 2021 [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2023 May 15]. Available from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/261189/global-tobacco-production-since-1980/
  3. The global burden of tobacco – the Lancet [Internet]. [cited 2023 May 15]. Available from: https://www.thelancet.com/infographics-do/tobacco
  4. Tobacco [Internet]. World Health Organisation. 2022. [Cited 2nd May 2023]. Available from: https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tobacco
  5. Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2021. [Internet]. Office for National Statistics. 2022. [Cited 2nd May 2023]. Available from: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/drugusealcoholandsmoking/bulletins/smokingprevalenceintheukandtheimpactofdatacollectionchanges/2020
  6. Beard E, and West R. Pilot study of the use of personal carbon monoxide monitoring to achieve radical smoking reduction. Journal of Smoking Cessation. 2012;7(1):12-17. DOI: 10.1017/jsc.2012.1.

World Asthma Day – 2nd May 2023

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Organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), World Asthma Day is an annual awareness day aimed at raising awareness of asthma and improving healthcare, with this year’s theme focusing on ‘Asthma care for All’1. Thanks to over 15 years of experience in FeNO monitoring, Bedfont® Scientific Ltd has developed a FeNO breath analysis device that can aid in the diagnosis and management of asthma. Bedfont® is working to increase access to FeNO monitoring worldwide through its dedicated network of distributors and Key Opinion Leaders.

Did you know that worldwide asthma affected an estimated 262 million people in 2019 and caused 455,000 deaths?2 The central process within asthma and many other lung diseases is airway inflammation, and being able to detect airway inflammation levels and monitor a patient’s response to treatment is regarded as a gold standard in the management of respiratory diseases.

When airways are inflamed Nitric Oxide (NO) is naturally produced by your body to help combat inflammation. This production of NO is often found to be higher in inflammatory conditions such as asthma, and an innovative way of detecting and managing such conditions is done through FeNO monitoring. Two funded projects in the UK have presented data from a staff survey in primary care that shows that 83% of survey respondents have felt that FeNO testing has improved confidence levels when diagnosing asthma, and 90% believe that access to FeNO testing has supported the diagnosis of asthma with patients3.

Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) is a measure of the concentration of NO gas particles in exhaled breath, expressed in parts per billion (ppb). The NObreath® FeNO device by Bedfont® Scientific Ltd. is easy to use with its simple exhale-only technique and on-screen visual motivation. With over 10 years of clinical use featuring in many studies worldwide, the NObreath® FeNO device aids in the diagnosis & management of asthma for both adult and child patients, giving you the ability to also store up to 25 results in up to 50 patient profiles with full graph results.

With a handheld, portable, easy-to-use device, Bedfont® is helping to break FeNO accessibility barriers. Previously FeNO breath analysis has been expensive, however, we have made it more cost-effective by having low-cost mouthpieces with a long shelf-life. The NObreath® includes a 5-year warranty on the device and sensor, and we have also simplified the service and maintenance options. To find out how you can support your patients with FeNO monitoring to improve ‘Asthma care for All’ this World Asthma Day, visit https://www.nobreathfeno.com.

References:

1. Rurey K. 2023 World Asthma Day – Global Initiative for Asthma [Internet]. GINA. 2023 [cited 2023Apr4]. Available from: https://ginasthma.org/2023-world-asthma-day/

2. Asthma [Internet]. World Health Organization. World Health Organization; [cited 2023Apr17]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/asthma

3. Feno testing in Primary Care [Internet]. West of England Academic Health Science Network. 2023 [cited 2023Apr17]. Available from: https://www.weahsn.net/our-work/case-study/feno-testing-in-primary-care/

IBS Awareness Month – April 2023

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Since 1997, April has been designated as IBS Awareness month by IFFGD (International Foundations for Gastrointestinal Disorders) and listed on the National Health Observances calendar1. This date gives the ability to impact positive outcomes such as providing additional research, increased educational opportunities, and improved patient care for the functional gastrointestinal community1.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that affects the digestive system, causing symptoms such as stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. Irritations tend to come and go over time and can last for days, weeks or months at a time2. In England and Wales, the number of people consulting for IBS is estimated to be between 1.6 and 3.9 million3. Unfortunately, although it is fairly common, IBS goes relatively undiagnosed and people are unaware that their symptoms indicate a medically recognized disorder1.

Traditional investigational methods can include invasive blood tests and lengthy waiting times for bloodwork analysis and results. Despite the fact that there is no direct test for IBS, the Gastrolyzer® range by Bedfont® Scientific Ltd. offers a quick and non-invasive breath analysis tool that can help when investigating a patient’s symptoms.

Hydrogen and Methane Breath Testing (HMBT) with the Gastrolyzer® range works by measuring exhaled levels of H2 & CH4 produced when the bacteria in the gut breaks down food. Interpreting these gas levels can help determine and/or rule out gastrointestinal disorders, such as carbohydrate malabsorption and sugar intolerances.

With results promptly displayed onscreen, it reduces the time of your patient’s discomfit, making HMBT an ideal tool for doctors, dietitians, and gastroenterologists.

All the necessary information about how you can help your patients with the Gastrolyzer® range products can be found on our website, https://www.gastrolyzer.com.

References:

1. Ibs awareness month [Internet]. About IBS. 2022 [cited 2023Mar6]. Available from: https://aboutibs.org/living-with-ibs/ibs-awareness-month/

2. NHS choices. NHS; [cited 2023Mar6]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs/

3. Irritable bowel syndrome [Internet]. NICE. 2015. [Cited 10th March 2023]. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs114/documents/irritable-bowel-syndrome-in-adults-qs-briefing-paper2

Bedfont® Scientific Ltd. achieves Platinum Business Award presented by Kent County Council (KCC)

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Med-tech company, Bedfont®, has received the highest accolade for their workplace initiatives

In just under 6 months, Kent County Council has presented Bedfont® with the highest award possible for promoting a positive work environment, a healthy work/life balance, and showing its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.

After joining the Healthy Workplace Programme last year, in October Bedfont® announced it had received 3 awards for their efforts to create a positive workplace environment. Now in just under 6 months, Bedfont® has excelled in building new initiatives and putting the wellbeing of employees at the forefront of the business, resulting in being rewarded with the Platinum status.

The programme, funded by the KCC and Medway Council, helps to support health and wellbeing at work with relevant policies, training and guidance(1). Recent studies have shown that those with a healthy work/life balance have more motivation and are more productive at work(2).

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont®, remarks, “I’m over the moon with having achieved the Platinum award in just under 6 months! It’s really great to be recognised for the efforts we are making to make Bedfont® a great and innovative place to work. Although this might be the highest achievement, there is always more we can do to improve; I look forward to the Bedfont® Family rising to the next challenge as we continue to grow.”

The Kent and Medway awards team, comments, “This award is the highest level of achievement within the programme and highlights Bedfont® Scientific’s commitment as a responsible business in the local community. Although it can be difficult to suggest improvements and progression for a business that works at the Platinum level, Bedfont® should be very proud of their work around health and wellbeing as they have implemented many great initiatives and ensure to maintain their current culture.”

References:

1. Council M. Healthy workplace programme [Internet]. Healthy Workplace Programme | Medway Council. [cited 2023Mar16]. Available from: https://www.medway.gov.uk/healthyworkplace

2. 10 statistics on work-life balance that May surprise you (2023) [Internet]. Apollo Technical LLC. 2023 [cited 2023Mar16]. Available from: https://www.apollotechnical.com/statistics-on-work-life-balance/

National No Smoking Day

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National No Smoking Day is an annual awareness day that serves as a campaign for greater awareness about the health dangers associated with smoking1. Bedfont® Scientific Ltd. has been helping people stop smoking for over 35 years with their Smokerlyzer® product range, which gives users instant Carbon Monoxide (CO) readings using a motivational traffic light system to guide them towards their quit goal.

Reports from NHS Stop Smoking Services in England between April 2021 and March 2022 have shown that of 178,198 adults setting a quit date, 54.8% were successful (97,654). And of those successfully quitting, 6.8% (6,640) had their results confirmed with a CO verification2. It’s never too late for patients to benefit from stopping smoking, as being a non-smoker or at least reducing the use of cigarettes, can improve the chances of being more physically active and healthier as we get older3.

Out of the over 8 million global deaths related to tobacco each year, over 7 million of those deaths are from direct tobacco use, while 1.2 million are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke4. Establishing a patient’s smoking status is a great way in providing them with helpful analysis and guidance throughout their stop smoking journey.

Studies have shown the attitudes that smokers have towards quitting smoking when using a handheld CO monitoring device. One study noted that out of 15.5% of people that were planning on quitting in the next 30 days, 75.3% reported the CO device increased their motivation, with 73.1% reported that seeing their CO levels made them want to quit smoking. Furthermore, after 12 weeks, the number of cigarettes smoked per day decreased by 41.4%5.

The Smokerlyzer® range by Bedfont® consists of 4 handheld breath analysis monitors, Micro+™, piCObaby™, piCO™, and iCOquit® – each of which tests the level of CO in a smoker’s blood. High levels of CO in the blood can lead to smoking related diseases such as heart disease, circulation problems and high blood pressure. The onscreen instant results for each monitor, coinciding with the interpretation guide provided, makes understanding results easy and convenient when acknowledging which traffic light system bracket a patient falls underneath.

Visit https://www.bedfont.com/smokerlyzer to learn more about how you can aid patients to stop smoking, one breath at a time, with the Smokerlyzer® range.

References:

  1. Twinkl.co.uk. [cited 2023Feb2]. Available from: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/event/no-smoking-day-2023
  2. Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services in England- April 2021 to March 2022 [Internet]. NHS. 2022. [Cited 20th February 2023]. Available from: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/statistics-on-nhs-stop-smoking-services-in-england/april-2021-to-march-2022
  3. Smoking [Internet]. BHF. [cited 2023Feb2]. Available from: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/smoking
  4. Tobacco [Internet]. World Health Organisation. 2022. [Cited 10th February 2023]. Available from: https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tobacco
  5. Marler JD, Fujii CA, Wong KS, Galanko JA, Balbierz DJ, and Utley DS. Assessment of a personal interactive carbon monoxide breath sensor in people who smoke cigarettes: single-arm cohort study. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2020;22(10):1-24. DOI: 10.2196/22811.

The Medi-gas Check range ensures that medical pipeline testing is undertaken safely and strictly

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Many types of medical gas are used every day, in hospitals, dentists, vets, and vets; with healthcare workers and patients alike at risk of being exposed, medical gas safety is paramount.

Despite strictest legislation, medical gas exposure can occur and regrettably, this was the case for staff at a maternity unit in Basildon Hospital, who were said to have been exposed to 30 times the workplace legal exposure limit for Nitrous Oxide.

The gas leak was reported after routine checks and luckily, no mortalities have been reported.

Bedfont Scientific Ltd., a medical device and gas monitor manufacturer, based in Kent, was established in 1976 because of a tragic medical gas error, whereby a patient at a London hospital was administered N2O instead of O2. Bedfont invented the TM3 Gas differentiator – a simple device which could differentiate the two gases and ensure there were no cross-connections. Since then, Bedfont has developed a wide range of portable pipeline testing devices that conform fully with the requirements of UK Government Guidance in the form of the Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 02-01 and other relevant legislation.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont Scientific Ltd., stresses, “This incident highlights the incessant need to continuously monitor medical gases, it is lucky that there were no fatalities with this case. There are exposure limits and legal standards for a reason; quite bluntly, if anything were to go wrong with medical gas, it is a matter of life or death.”

“Safety practices in the medical gas sector are the reason Bedfont exist; we strive to have the one-stop-shop for all medical pipeline testing needs so that all safety and technical procedures concerning the verification and validation of piped medical gas can be undertaken safely and in accordance with the strictest legislation. The Medi-gas Check range not only verifies the quality and quantity of gas in medical pipelines and administration points, but specific monitors in the range act also as a personal, portable alarm, providing the user with time weighted exposure to makes sure there are no leakages.”

For more information on the Medi-Gas range, please visit https://www.bedfont.com/medigas.

Bedfont named Innovative Business of the Year, for 2 years running

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Local med-tech company, Bedfont® Scientific Ltd., is recognised for its Innovation for the 2ndyear in a row at the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce (KICC) Awards

On Thursday 17th November 2022, Kent’s esteemed businesses gathered at Westenhanger Castle for the annual Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce (KICC) Awards to celebrate the achievements of Kent companies. Bedfont is delighted to share that it has been named as Innovative Business of the Year, for the 2nd year running.

Bedfont, who design and manufacture breath analysis medical devices, have been trading since 1976, and export their products across the globe thanks to their network of carefully selected distributors.

Amidst the challenges posed by COVID, Bedfont® used its innovative nature to adapt its products and services to successfully navigate the pandemic, and as a result has come out the other side stronger, now offering remote breath testing devices.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, explains, “We created webinars and marketing materials to educate our customers on how they could safely continue breath testing. This led to a Healthcare Professional contacting us, asking for a way to help them continue CO monitoring for smoking cessation remotely. The iCOquit® was designed as a personal CO monitor, however we adapted this and the accompanying app and literature to enable the iCOquit® to be used for remote CO testing. This was so successful, the market then asked for a version to help expectant mothers quit smoking, and we provided –these innovative moves helped us succeed during a time of economic regression The Bedfont Family worked so hard to make this happen and I couldn’t be prouder to share this Innovation award with them.”

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