A Bradford firm has been set up to help medical professionals test for the effects of our noisy environment.

BTL Medical, based at Bradford Business & Innovation Centre, has a number of products available which will help medics carry out a quick and simple hearing test to pinpoint problems.

They have a manual and an automatic version of an audiometer which are used by GP practice nurses and occupational health and safety officers.

The new firm's management team is made up of managing director Dr Alison Marshall, chairman Dr Bob Gomersall, who is also a director of Bradford Technology and the Virtual College, and Tony Haynes who is also a director of the Regional Technology Network.

The firm has been funded by its directors and a small number of private investors but they are looking for another equity partner.

Dr Gomersall said that the company expected to have a turnover of more than £1 million five years from now.

The company has carried out research which shows that the hearing test market is a growth area because of our increased exposure to noise.

It says that over the next few years more workers will expect regular hearing tests from their employers, which will increase the need for test equipment.

And more GPs will be expected to carry out more medical tests in their surgeries to help cut hospital waiting lists, says the company.

Dr Marshall said today: "Many of the tests that currently require attendance at hospital or sending away of samples to laboratories could in future be done in the GPs' surgery or in community-based clinics.''

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