Modern X-ray, CT and MRI services guaranteed whatever the economic outlook
Royal Bolton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Siemens Healthcare have commenced a multi million, 15-year Managed Equipment Service (MES) agreement. This will guarantee the latest medical equipment in the main radiology department, the ongoing maintenance of existing systems and user training for the lifetime of the contract. With modern and well maintained equipment in place, the services offered to the local community will remain at a high standard whatever the future changes in wider NHS policy or budgets.
The stable investment plan at the centre of the MES agreement creates certainty for the Trust. An annual charge is payable to enable greater transparency and budget management, plus the contract ring fences investment for the future so that nothing is used beyond its recommended life and that a rolling equipment replacement programme is in place.
Eleven systems added on time to new build imaging department
The first phase of the redevelopment of St. Bartholomew’s (Barts) Hospital has recently been completed as part of a 35 year PFI Project, which includes a Managed Equipment Service (MES) partnership between Barts and The London NHS Trust and Siemens Healthcare. As part of the project, Siemens has installed eleven new imaging systems into the new Imaging and Diagnostics Department located within Barts Cancer Centre.
The MES partnership with Barts and The London NHS Trust means that Siemens is responsible for the maintenance, supply and ongoing replacement of all imaging equipment until 2045. The partnership assists with the selection and installation of equipment, along with the training of hospital staff and ongoing equipment maintenance in the new centre, which brings together several departments in one location on the site for the first time.
Specialist software system rolled out via vendor-independent commitment
Russells Hall Hospital, part of The Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, is benefiting from greater efficiency in renal patient management with the installation of new specialist software. The eMEDRenal application from Mediqal H.I. was installed as part of Dudley’s 15-year IT services Managed Equipment Service (MES) agreement with Siemens Healthcare.
Siemens Healthcare and Mediqal H.I. worked in partnership to ensure the smooth implementation of the software, which is a clinical patient database for renal specialities. eMEDRenal manages patient information from first referral through to dialysis, treatment and transplants. The software contains all demographics data, clinical notes, medications, radiology information and dialysis treatment. As part of a streamlined service, it can also schedule clinic and referral appointments
Technology an enabler to improve productivity and outcomes
AXrEM, the Association of Healthcare Technology Providers for Imaging, Radiotherapy and Care, has called for the NHS to drill deeper into the long-term financial and operational returns delivered from capital equipment investment. Executive member Siemens Healthcare supports the message outreach to imaging professionals, healthcare policy makers and wider health business managers and is ready aligned to support the vision.
The AXrEM paper, “The relationship between investment in advanced imaging technology, better disease prevention and a leaner, more cost effective NHS1”, highlights solutions that can reduce costs, transform patient care and deliver tangible improvements in operational performance via the investment in imaging technologies. It calls for caution on a slash and burn attitude to reducing capital investment in a bid to solve financial investment pressures, and encourages the health community to remain focused on the long-term return of imaging innovation. It acknowledges that capital for the implementation of new technologies is a challenge but urges for openness in embracing ways of realising innovation such as Managed Equipment Service (MES) contracts.
Agreement lengthened for flexible and long-term equipment peace of mind
Airedale NHS Trust has extended its Managed Equipment Service (MES) contract with Siemens Healthcare. The agreement has been flexibly re-scoped to include new imaging services, the removal of PACS and lengthened by four years to run until 2020. This long-term approach will ensure that all equipment installation, maintenance and training requirements are managed by a single point of contact over a longer period of time in line with a stable investment plan.
The service extension will add a new single source CT scanner, bone densitometer and cardiac catheter laboratory to the raft of already supported diagnostic imaging technologies.
Latest devices in place to meet workflow challenges at Barnet Hospital
Barnet Hospital, part of the Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, is now able to scan even the most challenging of patients types following the installation of seven ACUSON S2000™ and two ACUSON X300 PE™ ultrasound systems from Siemens Healthcare. The devices have been installed into the early pregnancy unit, the antenatal clinic for obstetrics and gynaecological work and the main department for use in general medicine.
All the technology was provided through the long-term Managed Equipment Service (MES) partnership in place at Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages the Investment Plan associated with the periodic renewal of over 2500 pieces of medical equipment until the year 2032. A Symbia S® dual head gamma camera has also been installed as part of the equipment refresh cycle.
Talented students rewarded at The Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
The Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Managed Equipment Service (MES) partner Siemens Healthcare, recently rewarded trainee doctors for academic achievements as part of the annual Ron Grimley post graduate scheme.
Dr Ajanta Jayatunga, who chaired the awards and Ian Elsworth, Siemens MES Manager for Dudley, presented the awards for three categories: Best Research Award, Best Audit Award and Best Paper Presented at a National or International Forum Award.
Digital Mammography system installed to increase number of patients examined
A MAMMOMAT Inspiration™ Full-Field Direct Digital Mammography system from Siemens Healthcare has been installed at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, part of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, to enable symptomatic patients to be imaged with the latest technology.
The Inspiration was installed to replace an existing analogue system, as part of the Trust’s long-term Managed Equipment Service (MES). This specialist partnership guarantees the ongoing renewal of imaging equipment to enhance the standard of care provided to patients. The bespoke MES with Siemens Healthcare is now in its tenth year.
Trust commissions two new image intensifiers in specially constructed suites
The Managed Equipment Service (MES) at Russells Hall Hospital, part of the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has enabled the completion of a new fluoroscopy room featuring an AXIOM Luminos™ TF system from Siemens Healthcare. It will be used for general and gastro intestinal procedures. A second room, which houses an AXIOM Iconos™ R200 fluoroscopy system, has also gone live this month.
The Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is in its ninth year of an MES partnership with Siemens Healthcare. The vendor independent contract looks after the maintenance, supply and ongoing replacement of all imaging equipment until 2041. The partnership assisted with a smooth installation, training of hospital staff, technical support and construction of the new buildings to house the equipment. This enabled the Trust to gain rapid access to the latest technology without compromising on patient care. This strategic approach to medical equipment also ensures that modern procedures can be offered to patients and that equipment uptime is maximised.
Siemens Healthcare supports educational forum
The University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust recently hosted the annual West Midlands Association of Radiologists Autumn Scientific Meeting, supported by Siemens Healthcare.
Radiologists and radiographers attended the educational meeting to listen to guest lecturers from across the region. Siemens specialists presented information on technology developments including Dual Source Computed Tomography (CT) scanning, which uses two X-ray sources and two detectors at the same time to increase temporal resolution and scanning speed.
