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Joined: Apr 2009
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Hi All:
what are the challenges for managing biomedical engineering department? how will face it in this recession time?

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Super Hero
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I think it may be fair to say that those who work in the National Health Service need not worry overly much about the financial realities which greatly affect those of us who toil on the Dark Side. frown

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Savant
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Well, if its for managing the biomedical engineering department, i personally believe it'll be the same as before. Medical equipment will still be in the hospital, someone has to keep it in working condition. Preferably someone proficient enough to do the job and not endanger anyone.

Well, in this recession times, it'll probably be no cookies during teatime. we still get hobnobs sometimes during teatime so i guess its no cause for alarm. grin

Seriously, we are planning to expand as we would have a new hospital building within the next 2 to 3 years. I guess its business as usual in our current side of the world.



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Philosopher
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I think that what you'll find is that posts that become or are vacant will not be filled.
Alistair Darling has already indicated that there will be a freeze on public expenditure for possibly the next 3 years. Therefore budgets will be frozen and lean management will be de rigeur.
Unfortunately Geoff, this will also mean the demise of locum/agency staff.


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Super Hero
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Originally Posted By: Kawasaki
Unfortunately Geoff, this will also mean the demise of locum/agency staff.

Not necessarily so, Kawa.

As Alan quite rightly points out, the kit will still need to be fixed! And, as you say, permanent positions may go unfilled. No, Mate ... I'm quite positive about it all. smile

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Unfortunately when Directors of Finance issue their missive on cost savings, one of the top priorities is to minimise the use of agency staff. If only they looked at their own over-staffed departments, they could save thousands!!!!!


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Super Hero
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Patience remains my primary weapon, Kawa. As in previous times of "fiscal difficulty", it will only take one equipment-related "incident" to make them change their tune. It has happened before, and it will happen again. I think we can be sure about that.

Agency techs are not Bank Nurses, for whom agencies fees of £ 60 an hour are not uncommon! Rates for techs are often only about a third of that (regrettably).

Meanwhile, Directors of Finance come, and Directors of Finance go (and quite rightly too, being, as they are, "two-a-penny"). But biomed techs who are willing and able to get stuck in and clear the work do not, as it were, grow on trees (never have, and doubtless never will). smile

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As one who has been in both 'camps', and is now in a third, I offer my observations. As you say Geoff, Bank Nurses often seem to be able to receive generous remuneration, even after the agency gets its cut. Why, I wonder, is it not the same for Biomeds, who, as you say, do not grow on trees? Where does the 'law of supply and demand' break down? Perhaps 'public opinion' has something to do with it..after all, everyone loves nurses wink and of course there are lots of them, so they have a powerful voice, which, when raised, soon engenders a wave of public support. Not so Biomeds....who/what are they anyway? Ah, boffins...well they must all get paid megabucks then!!

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Super Hero
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As you say, "everyone loves Nurses" (even me ... well, up to a point)!

On the other hand, biomeds have always tended to be very much in the background, as it were. Out of sight is out of mind. They tend to be gentle types (and there's nothing wrong with that), and not very vocal. Geeks, even, who rarely fight their corner. Most are interested mainly in the kit (and I count myself among them). And what's wrong with that? Isn't that what the job is meant to be all about? But I would say that pay (that is, salaries) for regular NHS biomeds is about right these days, is it not?

But as for Agency Techs, that's an entirely different matter. In my experience, rates have hardly improved (and sometimes work out at even less than before, in real terms) since the early 1990's. Why is that, I hear you ask? Probably because some of the blokes are prepared to work for peanuts, I would say.

And it's right there that the Laws of Supply and Demand break down. Biomeds (whether regularly employed, agency types, or whatever) tend to knuckle down and "make things fit", rather than being stroppy and saying things like "we're not doing that", or "we're under resourced". Has anyone ever heard of biomeds going on strike? No, I thought not.

There have been many cases where "monkeys" have been taken on (it's cheaper that way), only to have it all end in tears. This is a shame, especially in cases where the department had not used Agency Techs before, and now they've been put off for ever.

On the other hand (and happily), some other departments get it right the second (third, fourth) time around. By the way, it may not be commonly known that some NHS biomed departments remain heavily dependent upon agency staff. It's almost as if they are preferred. Well, at least they can be got rid off easily enough when the time comes (unlike, of course, permanent staffers).

Is this then the Future for Biomed? That is, hire techs as and when required to do the grunt work, whilst maintaining a core of permanent lifers to attend to all the meetings, politics, box-ticking, target chasing ... and whatever else precious time gets wasted on these days. smile

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Geoff,......is that really you?

"On the other hand, biomeds have always tended to be very much in the background, as it were. Out of sight is out of mind. They tend to be gentle types (and there's nothing wrong with that), and not very vocal. Geeks, even, who rarely fight their corner. Most are interested mainly in the kit (and I count myself among them). "
or has some one logged in as you? wink


Embrace Change, Hug Evolution and Respect Innovation. Without it, we all be running around like pigs.
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