EBME Forums Forums Management Medical Equipment Management Damaged equipment in transit

Also, as has happened to us recently, the courier delivers the equipment to the address and got a signature for it, but, the people later deny receiving the equipment. They don't recognise the person who signed for it!

The courier says that they delivered it and got a signature, so as far as they're concerned, job done and no liability.

So, a piece of our expensive kit is lost and no one is taking any responsibility for it - insured or not.

Cheers
Mark

Not Steve's mate "Happy Jack", I suppose, Mark?

I had a piece of equipment "delivered" that was signed for by "Nurse Smith". How many nurses work in the Goods Receipt loading bay? They had been watching too much Casualty, who calls themself "nurse"
But again they had a signature so it was delivered.
Robert

Are we to assume that the same "nurse" also helped herself to the bit of kit concerned?

Can a "named signatory only" not be stipulated for deliveries?

Good idea, but I am not sure if it would work in practice, others may disagree though.

In my experience, when a delivery guy delivers to our department, (TNT, Interlink etc,) as opposed to Supplies, they are in such a hurry to get any signature they can as they have to be at the next delivery point at a specified time. I don't think they would have the time or like the fact that they had to deliver to a named signatory only.

For Supplies it is a bit different as they normally know the drivers, they also keep a log of deliveries and dispatches, whereas we only keep a log of items dispatched.

Yes, generally that is the protocol by courier company to get proof of delivery ie., a signature and also the Company's stamp on the DO as well.
There is no value added to the service I guess .

Sounds to me like you're letting the tail wag the dog, there, Mike. Not a good policy at all in my opinion. If you're paying, then get them to do what you want (and not the other way around) (... another one of Hannis' Golden Rules? They seem to be mounting up)!

Hint: if they are in too much of a hurry to provide the service you require (that is, a quality service) ... take your business elsewhere.

Totally agree with your sentiments Geoff 'If you're paying, then get them to do what you want'. However, what I was alluding to was the scenario where we (EME) sometimes receive items from manufacturers (loan items etc), where we have no control over the selection of the courier. That is done by the companies them elves.

These delivery guys (DHL, TNT, Interlink etc) seem to be in such of a rush that the world seems to pass them in a blur. Don't even get a chance of a chat and the opportunity to offer them a cup of tea. As such we don't pay for this service directly (other than as having a Trust contract with the medical companies and as a taxpayer). Certainly we don't have control over the selection of the courier when items are sent to us anyhow.

I think that what all this has shown is that the national transportation and courier system (certainly that part used by the NHS) could do with a good gee-up. I think it was you who mentioned a NHS transportation or courier service here some time ago. Quite agree.