A SPECIALIST county firm has been awarded one of the UK’s highest business accolades - a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation.

Prometheus Medical, based at Hope-under-Dinmore, is recognised for the design and development of the Russell Chest Seal,  a disposable device that enables patients to breathe after receiving severe chest injuries.

Serious chest injuries often involve a hole being made in the chest wall which can cause lung collapse and affect the patient’s ability to breathe.

Now, the Russell seal is being adopted by UK ambulance trusts and deployed by emergency and military services.

Prometheus CEO Dr Malcolm Russell MBE, currently with the UK rescue mission in Nepal, said the company was “honoured and delighted” to receive the award.

“The Prometheus team works tirelessly to develop medical products that are clever in their simplicity, solve real medical problems and which contribute to the saving of life; our ultimate goal.

“This award recognises our team and our ethos and will drive us harder than ever to find more solutions to trauma care challenges,” he said.

Set up in 2005, Prometheus was trading a year later and currently employs around 25 staff in the UK.

It has a subsidiary which focuses on development of new products, called Prometheus DeltaTech Ltd, as well as subsidiaries in Qatar, Australia and South Africa. As well as producing medical equipment, Prometheus Medical provides specialist training courses and consultancy services.

Key customers in the UK include the Ministry of Defence and emergency services.

A growing number of international customers are drawn to the Prometheus offer which broadens beyond specialist products to  pre-hospital trauma care, major incident and disaster management, combat casualty care, primary care and remote medicine.