Equipping and Technical has built up an unrivalled grasp of customer needs and a comprehensive knowledge of suppliers. We are constantly researching new products, examining new services and using our impressive purchasing power to deliver economy of scale savings. We understand that every request sets in motion a chain of supply that ultimately leads to the patient. No matter how complex the project or service, we offer a personalised professional service delivered through a single point of contact – a unique source of expertise and independent advice.
We offer a range of diverse technical and equipping services throughout NHSScotland.
Capital Equipping – This service may range from the acquisition of a single piece of high value and technically complex equipment to the equipping of a major hospital development. It includes:
- Design of specialist departments,
- Assessment of existing equipment,
- Advice on safety and performance standards,
- Equipment scheduling, specifications and acquisition,
- Storage and distribution,
- Equipment commissioning and project and financial management from planning to completion.
It should be noted that > 85% of the work is technical and < 15% related to procurement.
Mammography Physics Quality Assurance Service – supporting the Scottish Breast Screening Programme. The work includes:
- Checking all X-ray mammography units
- Assessing the radiation dose and image quality
- Advice on technical aspects and training radiographers
- Providing physics support for new equipment trials
- Managing the maintenance of the fleet of mobile mammography vehicles and providing commercial and technical services to support equipment acquisition.
Support of National Screening Programmes – This is part of the general equipping service and involves working closely with National Services Division and NHS Boards to support the rollout of these programmes (eg. National Bowel Screening Centre Dundee). This includes drafting specifications, product evaluations and procurement, resulting in reduced capital and revenue costs.
Adverse Incident Investigation – coordinates the investigation of incidents involving medical devices, laboratory and estates equipment across NHSScotland and where necessary issues safety warnings. This involves close liaison with Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) and Scottish Government (SG) Health Directorates. An investigation service is also provided to the police and Procurator Fiscal where equipment is involved in a fatal accident.
Management of the Domiciliary Oxygen Therapy Service – includes provision of oxygen concentrators to patients on long-term oxygen therapy. This service has expanded over the years and now includes ambulatory oxygen and liquid oxygen with more developments currently under discussion with Scottish Government (SG) Health Directorates.
Validation Services – involves the examination, testing and reporting against published national criteria on the performance of equipment and processes to disinfect and sterilize. This service is essential if patient safety is to be assured and operating lists maintained. We also work closely with Food Control Laboratories as one of the few United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accredited organisations in the UK to provide calibration services to support the wider public health requirements. Following raised concerns about Variant Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease (vCJD) and the ensuing Decontamination Review our work is focused on supporting the Scottish Government in this national programme.
