Currently I am working with NSW Government Health Departments and Hospital EBME depts down under are expected not only to provide EBME services within a group of hospitals within a catchment area but also get business from outside private hospitals and clinics, this is done via a Business Unit Manager who sources potential clients. Is this practiced in the NHS EBME depts in UK?

Main hospital and satellite clinics, what is new about that? If they want to centralize the services are they giving you extra funding for staff, parts, test equipment etc?

Just as long as the "Business Unit Manager" also arranges any additional resources needed to carry out the extra work that s/he so triumphantly brings in!

Otherwise (and as everyone knows) there are various "business models" used for biomed departments in NHS hospitals throughout the UK. Each Trust can develop its own version, in theory at least. The question as to whether they are actually run as businesses is probably best looked at from the perspective (and aspirations) of the manager and, indeed, a definition of the word "business"!

To my mind, real businesses have owners (or shareholders) ... and they do not expect to be bailed out (eg, by the tax-payer) if (when) they fail.

Perhaps what we are really talking about here are Profit Centres. But as Peter Drucker famously exclaimed:- "The only profit centre is a customer whose cheque hasn’t bounced"!

When they have meetings are there " B.U.M ",s on seats ???

Why should NHS EBME staff be forced to work in the private sector for nothing? No other professional group would be used in this way. I'd like to see NHS medical consultants being leased out to the local BUPA hospital during their normal working hours for no extra pay. Even the Royal College of Nursing would never allow this to be tried on with their members. Private sector staff work in the public sector because their only purpose is to make money for their company's shareholders, but anyone choosing to work for the NHS, for example, should have an ideological commitment to their organisation.

NHS staff good. Public sector bad.

Yeah, right.

Main hospital and satellite clinics, what is new about that? If they want to centralize the services are they giving you extra funding for staff, parts, test equipment etc?

There is no extra founding for staff and recruitment had been stopped for 6 months, the Western Area Group had over spent $70M.

If you are bringing in private hospitals, they should pay for the services, they already do it with 'third party companies'

Of course they get billed! Do you think that NHS EBME departments work outside for nowt? There's enough resistance (from within the departments) as it is. Get real, Neil.

Apart from that, let it be said that those who labour on the Dark Side are quite happy that (in general) most in-house NHS biomed sheds are disinclined to venture outside of their own cozy little world.*

Also ... why should the tax-payer be subsidising such ventures? "Unfair competition" is the phrase that comes to mind.

You want more? OK ... (and for example) why should I (as one of the tax-payers) be paying not only for my own test equipment, but for that of my "competitors" as well? I'm sure you catch my drift, there, Mate.

* See earlier (historical) posts that have touched on this.

Geoff, I said that they should get paid. Umish was indicating there was no funds. Obtaining outside work is a way of filling the coffers. I is real.