Mölnlycke: a quality laparoscopic supplier with a strong heritage
Mr David Scott-Coombes is a Consultant in Endocrine Surgery and has worked at Cardiff and Vale University Hospital for the past 16 years as a specialist thyroid surgeon, including thyroid cancer, focused parathyroid surgery, and laparoscopic adrenal surgery. He recently discussed his experience using Mölnlycke laparoscopic trocars and monopolar instruments.
The top things that spring to mind when you think of Mölnlycke –they are established and are renowned for good quality.
Mr David Scott-Coombes,
Consultant in Endocrine Surgery, Cardiff and Vale University Hospital
Initially inspired to become a surgeon by a charismatic consultant when he was in medical school, Mr Scott-Coombes also relished the atmosphere in theatre and the immediacy of improving a patient’s outcome. He enjoys the many different aspects to a surgeon’s day: diversity, interaction with patients and colleagues, operating on patients, carrying out research, writing clinical papers, and management. However, what gives him greatest satisfaction is a really good patient journey from the first meeting, through diagnosis, to obtaining a good surgical outcome.
Heritage and a strong brand background are vital when choosing a laparoscopic supplier
Although Mr Scott-Coombes has known about Mölnlycke as a supplier of strong brands such as Biogel® and BARRIER® for a long time, he first learned of their recent expertise in laparoscopic equipment during a medical conference. In his view, it’s extremely important for a laparoscopic supplier such as Mölnlycke to have a strong heritage and a robust brand background, as this indicates certain defining characteristics including research, innovation, and investment, in contrast to ventures such as those promoted by hedge funds, which are often for short-term financial gain only.
‘Quality comes first; sometimes you can’t separate a brand from quality if the brand is strong. Cost must come second, and then the unique selling point from a particular company will tip the balance.’
Mölnlycke has provided strong, consistent support over time
Mr Scott-Coombes’ enthusiasm for trying something new led him to take up the opportunity to evaluate the Mölnlycke laparoscopic trocars and monopolar instruments as a prelude to using them for the Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons (ALSGBI) live surgery. He instantly found them easy to use, with good ergonomics. Ratchets that are difficult to lock and unlock have been a particular source of irritation with previous instruments, but there were no such problems with the Mölnlycke ones.
"I like to try out new things and it was no gamble using a Mölnlycke product."
Strong relationships were forged with the Mölnlycke team, who initially demonstrated the instruments outside the theatre environment and were then present in theatre during the first operation.
‘They were to the expected quality level and are vastly superior to all the re-usable equipment that we often have to use.’
Mr Scott-Coombes sees no need for Mölnlycke to improve on any of their laparoscopic trocars and monopolar instruments at present and would be happy to recommend them to other surgeons. He is now aiming to develop a laparoscopic tray to generate further efficiencies for the service. Mölnlycke has been very engaged in helping to achieve this goal.
I would recommend Mölnlycke laparoscopic trocars and instruments to others for quality products that are cost effective.
