AE:mm@nqmids.co.uk:MIKE MALONEY

THE disabled and sick are "on-line" to get vital medical equipment at cheap rates thanks to a Hartlebury firm.

Medicate Ltd, of Ikon Hartlebury Trading Estate, has launched a website for folk to buy everything from wheelchairs to incontinence pads at cut-price cost.

After 12 years of supplying nursing homes with medical supplies, firm director Julie Price realised there were many people struggling to raise cash for the prices charged by national medical suppliers.

In setting up Nursingshop Ltd she makes no apologies for it being a business enterprise but stressed there was a social conscience in her establishing the low price venture.

She said: "For many years I have had people approach me while I have been supplying to nursing homes to ask if they can order supplies privately.

"This has become much more frequent in the last 12 to 18 months so I have decided to set up this service.

"I am quite disgusted at the amount these people have to pay. These supplies are priced at an extortionate level."

She added: "Of course we will be making a profit but I see no need to charge such high prices."

Mrs Price cited an example of a commode in a national chemist priced £100 which will cost £29 at Nursingshop Ltd.

She has imported supplies from Italy and the Far East.

She said: "A lot of disabled people use the internet so I feel this is an accessible service for them.

"They can both order and pay on the net."

The website address is nursingshop.com