EBME Forums Forums Management Training NHS Training of Biomedical Engineers?

Dear All

I'm currently undertaking a Certificate of Education and as part of the course I'm hoping to write a paper on the current situation in the UK regarding the training of Biomedical Engineers in the NHS involved in the repair and servicing of standard medical equipment such as Anaesthesia machines, monitoring and basic equipment such as TENS machines etc.

In order to get the best possible picture of the current situation can I ask that only those currently employed in the NHS today reply.

Below are a few questions that if you have the time to answer I would be most interested in hearing your thoughts?

1. What are the minimum Qualifications and experience that you believe is required to be offered a position of biomed.

2. Does your hospital demand that engineers are on the VRCT?

3. Does your hospital have a training programme for Biomeds?

4. How important do you think clinical knowledge is when working with medical equipment?

5. What do you think of the current situation regarding training and registration of Biomedical Engineers.

6. What do you think is the correct tittle for an engineer/technician involved in repair and servicing of standard medical devices? Here are just some of the terms I have come across: Clinical Engineer, Biomedical Engineer, Medical Equipment Engineer/Technician, Technical Support Engineer, EBME Technician and lastly BMET (the term used in the USA meaning Bio Medical Equipment Technician)

7. Does your hospital have a training budget for Biomeds?

8. Your general thoughts as to what in the future you would like to see in the training and career paths for Biomeds?

Can I ask that you include your NHS location in your reply but if you wish not to share your comments with the forum, please feel free to send them to me as a PM or email. I will of course treat the information with total confidentiality and it will not be shared with any others.

Many thanks in advance to all those who find the time to reply to my questions, it will be very appreciated. Please add any other relevant remarks that you think are appropriate.

Regards
David Mulvey

"In order to get the best possible picture of the current situation can I ask that only those currently employed in the NHS today reply"

A bit too parochial, in my opinion. There are many experienced and qualified people working in the private sector who will have a valid viewpoint towards the appropriate selection, training and promotion of the Biomeds employed in the repair and servicing of "standard" medical devices within the NHS.

I would venture to suggest that Hospitals do not have training programmes for Biomeds, or demand that engineers are on the VRCT.
Only Management or individuals within Biomed Departments set the training programmes, or indeed specify entry criteria to follow their own agenda's, so to speak.

Kind Regards

Sean Fearon

Just in case some missed this post, can I ask againg for the thoughts of NHS Engineers and managers.

My paper only deals with the NHS and as such the responces I have asked for are only of use if they come from currently employed NHS Biomed engineers. This is no reflection on others.

Regards

Dave M

Where are the results going?
What will they be used for?
If only say 20 hospitals respond it can only be an output report of that number of hospitals as a percentage of the total I would have thought?

I didn't really want to join this post, but. How many of us are there? If you don't know that how can you work out whether the results are truly representative?

In answer to your questions Dave,

1. Depends on grade.
2. Definitely not.
3. Sort of.
4. Useful but not essential.
5. See my previous posts!
6. Sir!.... Biomedical Engineer.
7. Yes, limited.
8. In-house backed up with good engineering qualifications.

Is there a prize draw for doing this

This information is no more than a 'straw poll' in order just to gain a feel for what might be going on. I will not be having it published as it only a small part of what is required in my Cert Ed. I will not be to concerned that its not a full and true reflection just a small glimpse of what some people who work as biomeds in the NHS think of the present situation. Nobody how responses need fear that their name will appear anywhere.

I'm also looking at what goes on in other countries such as the USA and Europe so I can compare approaches.

Many thanks to those who have already responded

Dave M

Are you now inviting comment from those outside the NHS, then, David?

My interest are only in those within the NHS. No offence to others outside.

Dave M

Hi, and happy new year to ALL.
I work for that Large Organisation in SW17 for about 20 years, previously i had worked for Siemens for 5 years.Back in the day, You had to have a qualification in Electrinics, C&G, OND, HND, Degree, to get in the industry.

Reply to survey.
1- Yes.
2- No.
3- No.
4- Yes.
5- I think we do need a body to represents us, everyone else does.
6- we need grade specific titles. At present there is not to tell me and the engineer who test the oxygen flow meter, apart.
MEE sounds good (MEDICAL EQUIPMENT ENGINEER).
some times i call myself EME tech or EME engineer. Undecided.
7-Our department is self financing, so there is money for training, but there isn't a training budget.
8- I would like to see more apprentices.

Regards

Les

1. Depends on grade / experience (Starting with ONC/C&G to HND/Degree)
2. Preferred but not essential. (Same for Eng Tech, IEng etc)
3. Sort of – not hospital driven.
4. Useful but not essential, depends on the equipment / device.
5. Training: no national focus, Registration: we do need a body to represents us, everyone else does.
6. Electronics & Medical Equipment Engineer.
7. Yes, limited, predominately self financing by EME.
8. I would like to see more apprentices, nationally funded schemes backed up with good engineering qualifications.

Good luck with the Cert. Ed. studies