Medtech suppliers Platform-14 have announced that 64 NHS Trusts now have access through NHS supply chains to its BioWave therapy, designed to help treat patients who suffer from chronic pain.
Today, 34% of the UK population are living with chronic pain. Just over 1 in 10 of the UK is suffering from high-impact chronic pain which means they find it difficult to take part in daily activities. With nearly six million people currently on the NHS waiting list for elective procedures, the UK is heading for a severe bottle neck in accessing treatment as 250,000 more names are added to the list each month.
Since March 2020, NHS patients have had to adapt in the way they receive not only their diagnosis but also their treatment. The rise in ‘at home treatments’ is enabling more patients to continue their treatment plans and recovery post-surgery.
The suite of BioWave products is a non-invasive, neuromodulation device which treats pain using electric waves, rather than drugs. BioWave uses its set of waveforms to penetrate deeper and target the nerves causing the pain. Its high frequency alternating current system blocks pain at its source for long-lasting relief. Using wearable pain relief pads an active electrical field forms beneath and are shown to inhibit fibres.
Ben Fear, CEO at Platform 14 said: “With the current waiting list issues in the UK, we firmly believe that the family of BioWave devices could be used to help significantly reduce the 40% increase in opioid prescribing seen within the NHS to since COVID hit. The vast majority of this documented increase in strong painkillers is to help manage the pain of those waiting for treatments. BioWave devices are simple to operate, gives an average of over eight hours of pain relief from a single 30-minute treatment and 85% of pain suffers respond to the therapy. Furthermore, all of this can be done at home and gives the NHS a viable alternative to simply upping the dose.
“A pointed conversation with a doctor recently highlighted that if they were to use BioWave post-TKR they wouldn’t have to send patients home with large quantities of opioids so that the beds were freed up for the next patient.
“The solution to the waiting list issue can’t be solved with just one solution - but technology can play a significant role. The tools exist, the NHS has access to them - which means reduced costs for the NHS and better care for its patients and improved quality of life.”
Dr. Dominic Hegarty (consultant in pain management & neuromodulation, president-elect World Institute of Pain (WIP)) recognises the potential for BioWave Devices to provide non-invasive drug free treatment.
Dr Hegarty said: “The Biden Administration has acknowledged that the USA has reached a tragic milestone where more than 100,000 lives were lost to the opioid overdose epidemic from April of last year to April of this year (2021). In many cases individuals do not want to use opioids or other analgesics. We need to ensure we learn from this mistake and take every opportunity to provide effective and safe treatment options for individuals in daily pain.”
