Miriam Oldershaw and a physiotherapist friend created the TubieeGo to answer the need of a friend’s son who was struggling with a tube-feeding bag which was too heavy and bulky for him, leaving him confined to his buggy.
Combining her medical experience with her love of textiles, Miriam began to produce bags for people of all ages for whom the existing tube-feeding bag options made them feel self-conscious or were too uncomfortable to wear. The lightweight and strong TubieeGo insert holds the feeding system securely inside the specially adapted bags and backpacks, distributing the weight of the feed and preventing pressure points on the shoulders or within the feed containers and tubes themselves.
She said: “The idea that people were being held back by equipment that was too heavy or too embarrassing to take out didn’t sit right with me. I’d hear stories of young professionals wanting to feed through the night because they didn’t want to take the bag to a board meeting or about children feeling worried to start school. I am a keen believer in social equality and my aim with the business is to provide tube-fed patients with a feeling of inclusivity, respect and access to the same fashion that is available to everyone else.”
Feedback on the product was positive and within a matter of months Miriam was shortlisted for the North West Region Start-Up Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2019 NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2019. Whilst unsuccessful on this occasion the business has gone from strength to strength and now offers both a range of purpose-made bags and an adaptation service, providing patients with an almost free choice with suitably sized bags.
Further information about the TubieeGo system can be found at www.tubieego.com
Merseyside nurse launches new tube-feeding system bag
20 Dec 2019
A specialist community school health nurse from Liverpool was recently nominated for a business award for her invention of a specially designed tube-feeding bag.
