A Co Derry company has secured a deal to supply US military veterans with high quality therapeutic seating.
Seating Matters in Limavady will provide the US Department of Veterans Affairs with specialty wheelchairs to be distributed to veterans across America.
The contract will see the firm supply over 1,200 healthcare facilities, serving nearly nine million veterans a year, in what is described as the largest healthcare system in the world.
Seating Matters products are designed to offer greater mobility and comfort to those who are no longer mobile or have reduced mobility than a standard wheelchair.
The seats are the result of a two-year study in which Seating Matters collaborated with researchers at Ulster University.
The study looked at the effectiveness of specialist seating provision in a nursing home environment and showed that the use of specialist seating significantly improved the comfort and quality of life of trial subjects.
Occupational Therapist Martina Tierney said that the staff at Seating Matters were ‘honoured’ to have secured the contract.
She said: “We are so proud of our team for working together to achieve this tremendous opportunity which raises the profile of Seating Matters in America and makes our seating accessible to those who have risked their lives while serving the US.
“We believe that veterans deserve, perhaps more than anyone else the comfort, safety, security and luxury that only a Seating Matters chair can provide. This exciting new development from the VA ensures that this option is available to all veterans in need of a therapeutic chair for their home or facility.”
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