Ballykelly firm wins contract to bring comfort to US veterans

Ballykelly therapeutic seating specialist Seating Matters has landed a major coup by securing a contract to supply wheelchairs to the United States Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) as well as to veterans across North America.

Martin Tierney, Managing Director of Seating Matters, said the firm is delighted to have secured the contract.

He said the DVA’s Veterans Administration has the world’s largest healthcare system in the world, catering for 1,233 healthcare facilities serving more than 8.9 million veterans each year.

Anyone who has served in the US forces during the Second, Korean, Vietnam or Iraq wars is entitled to healthcare paid for by the US government.

“It is an absolute honour for us to provide the best possible seating to enhance the lives of veterans through the VA,” said Mr Tierney.

“Research conducted at Ulster University has shown that Seating Matters chairs can reduce pressure ulcers, save money and improve quality of life.

“Our chairs have been helping patients with lower or no mobility in nursing homes and hospitals in the UK and Ireland for many years and it is great to know that we can now help people with similar needs across the US,” he added.

Under the new contract the firm will supply Seating Matters chairs to all veteran facilities across the fifty states of America.

Mr Tierney said Being recognised by the Federal Government in Washington D.C was testament to the team of clinicians, designers and engineers at Seating Matters.

“This is the biggest healthcare system in the world and we have got the contract to supply all therapeutic chairs for them from both our Northern Ireland and American offices,” he said.

“This means the use of our chairs will continue increasing around the world and this is really positive for the business.”

Seating Matters have offices in the US, Canada, UK and Australia and design and manufacture the only clinically trialled seating in the world, therefore providing sound evidence of the chairs’ functionality.

eating Matters chairs were designed by Martina Tierney, an Occupational Therapist of over 30 years, who wanted to meet the needs of her patients locally here in Northern Ireland.

In a short period of just 8 years the Seating Matters chairs are now helping improve patients’ lives across Europe, Australia, Canada, America and now also supply the VA, the world’s largest healthcare institution

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