EBME Forums Forums Management Medical Equipment Management Equipping for the Flu Pandemic

Publice documents Geoff

see:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/ukresilience/pandemicflu/risk/current_risk_assessment.aspx

and
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/262943/0309planningassumptions.pdf

Yes John

A EBME Manager I am involved in making ready at a number of our NHS hospitals

More widely we are currently assisting Trusts with emergency and disaster solutions related to this pandemic

As suggested, EBME managers country wide are being tasked with planning for the worst case scenario with little resources

A typical scenario is this, this is the equipment we have,(normally old, not currently front line or in storage) presently it is configured like this, it has this capability, can you bolt on modern universal stand alone components to satisfy our planning requirements, when can you do it and ho much will it cost.

Its been quite a challenge, but very worthwhile, the majority of our involvement to date has been turning old anaesthetic machines and iduction units made by whoever into capable modern HDU/ICU ventilator platforms.

Ive enjoyed this but in addition to the make do and mend approach above, of which personally I favour, as suppliers we are being asked now the following by NHS supply chain

What is the maximum amount of low spec anaesthetic machines that can be provided at any one time?
What low spec stock is in situ?
What plans are there to increase production if needed?
What is the lead time from order to end user?

So theres plenty of activity around equipping contingency planning and delivery, and theres at least a couple of approaches

What I find quite amusing and ironic from my perspective with my Key Health hat on is that after many years of trying to compete and being beaten up on a regular basis by the superior specification of GE, Drager and such equipment, I just about surrender, breath sigh of relief and resignation, turn around and discover, low spec is now in vogue.

I give up!

Darren

In short, it's known as "needs must"! In my opinion, this country could do with a healthy dose of "reality". So let's hope that some good will come out of it all.

I agree with the 'make do and mend' when it comes to something like a pandemic, but my gut feeling is - there will be no more clinical pressures than in any other year. (Unless the virus mutates)

I have chopped a good 90% off the clinical 'wish lists'. Some of the staff were just using the pandemic as an excuse to 'try it on'. When questioned - their contingency plans were found to be outragiously over-specified.

well folks, spring has sprung up there in the northern half of the globe and the worst of the flu season has passed, so...... how did that ol' pandemic go then? Complete fizzer or what? Worth all the panic spending? Many experts looking rather embarrassed?

Haven't you heard ... we've moved on to new "fizzer" now - something to do with a volcano, ash clouds and all that that entails!

Strangely enough a report published today shows that the Scottish government have spent £55 million so far on swine flu. That's just over £1,000,000 A WEEK. As far as I can tell the only people to have really benifited are the guys who sold us all that shiney new equipment and the half dozen people who made a recovery. Our ECMO machine is lying in a store room getting dusty and have you seen the new car the Draeger rep is driving? (Only kidding John if you're reading this).