EBME Forums Forums Management Professional Issues Volunteer advisors needed to assist MHRA

The MHRA are currently looking for two EBME engineers to join the MHRA’s (Devices Safety and Surveillance Unit) list of expert advisors for electrical safety.

The Devices Safety and Surveillance Unit have a list of expert advisors across a range of areas some of whom have a clinical and/or a technical background. These advisors are contacted on an ad-hoc basis by medical device specialists, who may require advice relating to the safety of medical devices (including review of corrective actions proposed by manufacturers in the event of medical device safety concerns). In some circumstances the external advisor may be asked to review a clinical trial application by conducting a conformity assessment, which consists of reviewing documentation provided by the applicant and providing comments/questions for the manufacturer. The assessor is paid for each investigation they review.

I have been asked to nominate two individuals who may be interested in joining the MHRA list of expert advisors for electrical safety.

This is mainly ad-hoc unpaid voluntary work - with respect to the adhoc advice, this isn’t paid for and would usually consist of an email or a telephone call. The advisors are only paid if they are needed to conduct a review of the technical file for a clinical investigation ( £880 per review) The work is all done electronically i.e. via emails etc, so they wouldn’t be required to commute.

If you feel that you have the time and relevant expertise in electrical safety, please 'private message' me through this forum.

If you do know any colleagues with electrical safety knowledge who may be willing to act as voluntary expert advisors for the MHRA, please do let me know via private message.

Hello John, is it usual for the MHRA to request for expert technical advice free of charge ? On a personal note I would say that my time is valuable as I think most people would. Why should anyone consider giving up their time free of charge to an organisation who are more than capable of paying for expert technical advice ? Just asking.

Hi Kit, I think lots of organisations and institutes ask for volunteers. Some people are happy to give up some of their time foc, and they did say they will pay for certain investigations, but I do see your point. 🙂

As always:- follow the money (how is the MHRA funded?).

Surely you remember David Cameron's "Big Society" brainwave ... you know, where volunteers do the work (for nowt) and the CEO's coin in the Big Bucks (and the gold-plated pensions)?

I seem to recall that was around the same time we were promised a "bonfire of the quangos".

Myself, I don't see the point in working for nowt unless you're doing so on your own terms (doing something you enjoy doing, and doing it the way you want it done). If someone wants you to do something when and where, and the way they want it done - well, that sounds very much like "work" to me, rather than a "labour of love".

Over the years I can attest to the saying "No good deed goes unpunished"; I can also confirm that people never really value anything (even a so-called "free lunch") that was provided for free. That especially applies to something (a sale, or service) provided free of charge - but also to life's intangibles (such as giving someone a hand, or even unconditional love); sadly such noble gestures generally end up being resented.

Does not the well-worn idiom "You get what you pay for" still hold true?

I tend to agree with you Geoff (and Kit)
If you give your time for free, it can be 'taken for granted', I have had one volunteer and passed on their details to the MHRA, but there are not loads of people queuing up to volunteer their time.

Yes John I'm not surprised there has not been an influx of willing participants. As the old saying goes "Todays favours become tomorrows duties" .

As Geoff says - if someone wants something done the way they want it, that sounds like work - so why not pay the going rate for expert technical advice.

I'm a bit too long in the tooth now to have the generosity of spirit to give up my time free of charge, especially when you see how some people can manoeuvere themselves into very well paying positions for doing very little.

Count me in , always happy to progress