EBME Forums Forums Maintenance Technical Assistance EBME/Med Physics Numbers?

Hi All,

Does anybody out there know the numbers of engineers/techncians within the NHS who are involved with the repair and maintenance of medical equipment? 100? 1000? 5000?

The VRCT now has approaching 3,000 Registrants (September 2010).

The above taken from VRCT website, you could use this as a starting point.

As the VRCT seems to be more Mandatory that Voluntary these days it might be close.

John

Bear in mind that a lot of CT's are Physics Technicians (Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Protection, Gamma Camera operators etc.)and NOT Biomeds!

Can I ask why you are asking Rob?

Re: John, 'You are hereby mandated to join our voluntary organisation, WOW! Straight from the Mafia'

Rob, do you mean general biomeds, specialized (Dialysis/Radiology) or does it not matter as long as they belong to the NHS?

What about all the (ex?) biomeds in the NHS who spend all their time in Management, Training, "Clinical Governance", AfC "duties", Union activities ... and all the rest?

@Rob: I restrained myself from replying yesterday, but here goes:-

Yes, John's response seems logical enough at first glance, but (there again) Bill's comment is a valid one.

In the absence of any definitive figure to your question being presented here (in the Old Days, the DHSS at Elephant and Castle - or even Eastwood Park - probably would have known), why not try this:-

1) How many NHS Trusts?
2) How many biomeds at each Trust (on average)?

So ... what's the answer? Circa 1,200 would be my guess (and a guess is all it is).

@Bill: why is Rob asking? I suspect he's trying to work out if he can afford to hire them all!