THE INVENTION of a West Dorset woman who snared a Dragon is now helping patients at Dorset County Hospital.

Kay Russell, from Corscombe, bagged £100,000 investment for her Physicool bandage after appearing on the BBC television show Dragons’ Den.

Her product impressed businesswoman Deborah Meaden, who provided the investment, and has now gone on to impress medical staff at the Dorchester Hospital.

Physicool bandages, which provide cooling treatment for muscle inflammation, are being used for patients recovering from knee surgery to help reduce the risk of blood clots.

Consultant orthopaedic and trauma surgeon at DCH Simon Garrett was introduced to Physicool bandages through a patient who had been singing the praises of the product.

He said: “We are constantly looking at ways to improve our patient care.

“If we can reduce the pain we can get patients up and moving quicker and they will mobilise quicker and leave hospital that much more quickly.

“We have been carrying out some clinical trials using Physicool bandages on patients who’d had knee replacement surgery.

“We found that post-op, after one day patient pain scores were much reduced and in the first 48 hours Physicool made a dramatic difference.”

Mr Garrett added that the bandages also offered financial benefits to the hospital, which has suffered economic troubles over recent years.

He said: “Using Physicool also made significant cost savings of about a third, on the part of the hospital in terms of comparable treatment methods.

“Our clinical trials also showed us that Physicool bandages and cooling solution created no problems with wound healing, skin problems or any further complications.”

Mrs Russell said: “We are delighted to be supplying NHS patients at Dorset County Hospital with our Physicool cooling bandages.

“It is a fantastic endorsement for Physicool that our cooling bandages have consistently reduced swelling for patients recovering after knee surgery enabling them to get back on their feet after 24 hours and so reducing further risks of blood clots. “Physicool has also provided a more flexible post-operative solution, as patients can take Physicool cooling bandages home with them and have found it easy to self administer on a regular basis.”

Physicool bandages can be re-used and can be self-applied as an alternative to an ice pack.

The range of products available includes bandages for wrists, knees, ankles, elbows, thighs and shoulders.

They are available at Boots and Lloyds Pharmacy.