insideKENT Magazine Issue 23 - February 2014 | Page 148

BUSINESS

insideKENT INTERVIEWS

Ultroid UK Ltd
What is the aim of Ultroid UK Ltd?
Ultroid is introducing a revolutionary new treatment
for haemorrhoidal disease to the UK.
When was the company formed?
The business started in January 2013, and the
first patient was treated in April 2013. Although
Ultroid is new to the UK, the Ultroid treatment
has been used in the USA for 20 years, and more
than 100,000 treatments have been carried out
there over the past several years.
What is Ultroid and how does it work?
The doctor gently applies a very low direct current
to the haemorrhoid. The treatment targets the
blood vessels which feed the haemorrhoid. It
causes a natural chemical reaction within the
blood vessel, triggering the healing process. With
the blood flow to the haemorrhoid interrupted,
the haemorrhoid continues to shrink for 7-10
days following treatment, and as the haemorrhoid
shrinks, symptoms are relieved. In many cases,
the patient will feel relief immediately following
the procedure. The procedure takes 10-30
minutes depending on how many haemorrhoids
need treatment and what grade they are.
Is it safe?
Yes. It is non-invasive — no knives and no
needles. Principally for this reason, there are no
complications following Ultroid treatments. Ultroid
is approved by the US FDA and has been
approved for use in Europe (CE). The UK
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory
Agency (MHRA) has confirmed that the treatment
is approved for use in the UK, and the Canterbury
clinic where treatments are currently given is

approved by the Care Quality Commission to
provide Ultroid treatments.
What happens after the treatment?
The patients get up and go about their daily
business straight away. Higher grade piles may
require further treatments.
What makes the Ultroid treatment different
from alternatives?
Ultroid is the only treatment which is suitable for
all grades of piles. It is painless, there are no
complications, no preparation of the patient is
required, and the patient can return to work or
their daily routine immediately after treatment.
As a provider of the treatment, what do you
offer your patients to feel comfortable before,
during and after the procedure?
Prior to the initial treatment, patients have a
consultation with Dr Mark Hudson-Peacock, who
assesses whether the treatment would be suitable
and explains it to the patient. This generally takes
a half hour, or longer if needed. A few weeks
after treatment, Graham Bason, our Patient
Services director, rings the patients to see how
they are getting on. Our operations manager also
sends a feedback form and SAE to make sure
the patients are satisfied. After treatment,
symptoms continue to decline and patients go
on with their normal life, but now a much better
normal life!
Ultroid is currently not provided by the NHS,
where can someone go to be treated?
Ultroid is currently available at the Canterbury
Skin and Laser Clinic, but we are planning to

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open other clinics throughout the UK. We are
beginning to work with the local commissioning
groups representing GPs in East Kent, which we
hope will culminate in securing agreement to
treat NHS patients in this area. This will then feed
into the NICE assessment process, which is
ongoing and will lead to the agreement for Ultroid
to be offered to all NHS patients nationally in due
course.
Should one consult his/her GP before going
ahead with the Ultroid procedure?
As they see Dr Hudson-Peacock before
treatment, it is not necessary for the patient to
see their GP also, but we encourage patients to
consult their GP if they wish.
As Ultroid is a new treatment, where do you
see yourselves in five years time?
Given the benefits of the Ultroid treatment, we
believe Ultroid should be the leading treatment
in the UK for haemorrhoidal disease in five years.

Visit www.ultroiduk.com for more information
and to read some of Ultroid UK's client
testimonials.