Carlow’s HaloCare makes Davos debut

Carlow-based HaloCare, a digital health innovation start-up whose founders include Netwatch’s David Walsh and Niall Kelly, was last week the only Irish company to apply to participate in the prestigious SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Lab Davos in Switzerland was invited.

r Johnny Walker, another co-founder, said he began working with Walsh and Kelly six years ago to develop sustainable ways of providing care for the elderly.

Walker, an Australian, said the goal is to change the way we care for people at a time when health workers are scarce and the population is ageing. They have developed technology that can help older people connect with friends and family and monitor health and safety. It is supported by the company’s CareHub with medical staff in Carlow. “There are certain diseases that we can safely treat from the comfort of our own homes, instead of that person having to hike all the way to a hospital,” he said last week.

HaloCare CEO Sarah Jane O’Dwyer, herself an ICU nurse, said the service can support the private and public healthcare system and the company is committed to greater use of digitally assisted home care in HSE.

It is starting a project with the HSE on elderly care in July and is also working on projects with public hospitals.

The company, which was founded a year and a half ago, now has 30 employees and intends to double this number in two years. A fundraiser is also planned over the next six to months on a commission basis with a body such as the HSE or NHS.

Aer Lingus files lawsuit in the US against Swissport

Aer Lingus is embroiled in a dispute with Swissport over alleged damage to the wing of one of its planes.

Legal documents filed in the US show that Aer Lingus is seeking damages from the air services company.

It is alleged that Swissport employees were towing a plane in May 2018 when they damaged a winglet that had to be replaced and repaired, causing around $70,000 in damage. It said Swissport had not finally responded to its claim or reimbursed it.

Swissport said it would not comment on pending litigation.

Aer Lingus did not respond to a request for comment.

Oral care nurses boost sales

Spotlight Oral Care from entrepreneurial Galway sisters Lisa and Vanessa Creaven has certainly improved sales.

According to the latest results, the company’s oral health products sales increased by over 10 million euros to over 16.6 million euros for the year ended June 2021.

Despite the jump in revenue, Spotlight posted a pre-tax loss of just over €3 million, up from a loss of nearly €648,000 in 2020.

Last year, Spotlight raised €12 million in funding.