As equipment libraries are becoming more popular. What is the typical grading nationally of a library manager's post?

I have responsibility for a large amount of 'common user' items of equipment, typically, volumetric and syringe pumps, monitoring equipment, feeding pumps, nebulisers, blood warmers etc and Pegasus beds.

This is an acute hospital with 500 beds and I carry out all aspects of the service autonomously, at an ATO grade. I feel this is well below what it should be for this post.

I notice that there are several vacancies for these posts all graded at MTO4 or 'G' grade. Is this typical?

Although we haven't started our Equipment Library yet, funding pending, the exercise we carried out as to staffing and running of the service did pitch the "co-ordinator" of this service at around MTO 4/G grade.

Obviously factors such as numbers of dependent staff, training obligations and technical servicing have a bearing here when grading the post which has control of the Library.

If, as you say, you "manage" or are expected to manage a Library that has all or some of these features on an ATO grade then I think that is well short of what should be expected.

There ar 3 people in our library, including myself. The Equipment Co-ordinator is on A&C4 grade(slightly less money than an MTO2). We have another person(part-time/anualised hours, A&C4) who helps the co-ordinator, he has also been trained to look after the pressure mattresses. Then there's me, an MTO3. I look after the equipment in the library along side my other duties.
As far as I'm aware, the MTO grade is a technical one so unless the co-ordinator takes on a technical role he/she should be on a clerical grade.

cheers

MTO4 - Good luck if you can get it!!. Here in York we have 2 part time Equipment CoOrdinators which are on Healthcare Assistant grades. I'm the EME manager and paid on EO3 which is equivalent to MTO4. I have 11 technicians including Renal and Anaesthetics Tech's,on EO1 and 2. But then this is York.

We have one full time assistant technical officer manning the library. She is supported by an MTO2.
This is purely an equipment library. We have a separate workshop for carrying out maintenance.

The ATO is resposible for delivery/collection of equipment, and operation of the library database. (This is a dedicated database for the library from Oakleaf)

John
How many equipments does your library look after? Does the MTO carry out any maintenance? Have you had any problems with the service?

So many questions, so few answers

To provide another answer to Flight No. 96alpha, [are you ex military or something?]

Our Medical Equipment Pool was set up by myself in 1995 following a visit to Leeds General Infirmary to see theirs.

It was set up with all our ward owned, minor equipment of some 70 odd items, mainly IV pumps/syringe pumps, which burgeoned in a very short while to some 200 plus when it was identified a shortage existed in these areas.

Following a costing exercise, it was then decided that to purchase and supply our own pressure relief systems was a cheaper option to hiring.

Our present Pool administrator along with another member of staff, is now responsible for the daily running of our "Pool, which now carries some 850 items, comprising the usual IV pumps, syringe pumps, suction pumps, pressure relief systems, but also; blood warmers, Defib's, Sats monitors, ECG monitors, feeding pumps, etc. In addition to all the Trust's oxygen and medical air therapy equipment, regulators, flowmeters, etc., and the Trust's stock of spare hospital mattresses, and various resusc' training aids.

They are required to have a basic knowledge of the different types of medical equipment and pressure relieving equipment, with training provided as necessary.

The staff book in/out equipment, ensuring that it is kept in a serviceable condition, take telephone requests and are responsible for the issuing of equipment and keeping the computerised inventory records up to date.

To keep them busy they are also responsible for ordering any consumables, running the Pool's contracts and any other ad hoc paperwork and correspondence.

And should they dream of relaxing they also provide secretarial and administrative support to the Medical Engineering manager and administer the Medical Contracts for the Medical Engineering Department.

This is all done on an A&C grading, any repairs of course being carried out by the Medical Engineering Lab, the girls raise a job on our networked Medical Engineering system and send the equipment to us.

Now if you just have a spare broom or two!!!

Well I hope this settles a few hopes and dreams of empires new! And as at York – this is Whiston after all!

Chaddy.


**Don't cry - be happy **

IAN IS SEAN STILL WITH YOU.
IVE HEARD HES MOVED ON TO PASTURES NEW.

Max,
We have around 150 pieces of equipment circulating from our equipment library. We have invested £120K in the last year on buying new equipment.
The equipment we supply is limited to general use syringe drivers (Graseby 3100/3150,& MS16/26)
General use infusion pumps (Volumed 5005)
Ripple pumps and mattresses (mainly Huntleigh)
Pulse Oximeters (Nellcor)
NIBP Monitors (Welch Allyn)
Patient monitors (Ultramedic MEC509)

Our library does not supply equipment to
ITU/NNU/or CCU.

Our biggest problem is keeping control of the stock, and out of hours is covered by the porters, who tend to forget to do the paperwork when removing equipment.

Karl,

Where did you hear such a terrible thing!! no thank goodness, Sean is still with us. A bit disillusioned about the way things are going with the PFI maybe, but still here.

Ian.

P.S. May I add my Very Best Wishes to everyone, wherever you are, for 2003. Have a good one chaps, also I might add, to thee of the fairer sex. :p