Deal could save medical jobs

Ethicon announced the closure in May

A rescue deal has emerged which could save 400 jobs due to be shed at a major medical supplies company.

The closure of Ethicon's two Edinburgh factories should have resulted in the loss of 850 jobs.

However, details have come to light of a plan by a new owner to resume production in at least one of the sites.

Healthcare consultant Midwinter Associates declined to name the potential buyer.

It said it was representing major shareholders in an Anglo-Belgian medical devices company.

Medical equipment

Midwinter's acquisitions manager Gary Pearce said: "At the moment it's early days, but we are very interested in the possibility of rescuing these plants for our client and returning them to full production.

"It is likely that this could involve 300-400 jobs."

Ethicon is a medical equipment firm owned by US company Johnson and Johnson.

Plans to close the facilities for manufacturing surgical sutures and needles in the Sighthill area of Edinburgh by 2005 were announced in May.

The work will be transferred to Puerto Rica and Brazil.

Unions described the closure plan as a "complete surprise" and promised to fight any compulsory redundancies.