EBME Forums Forums Management Medical Equipment Management Manufacturers recommended vs ? based maintenance

Far be it from me to suggest yet another quango, but surely such a mammoth organisation as the NHS, with its vast holdings of technical equipment (not to mention its seemingly endless demands for more public money) really needs an Engineering Authority. It could simply be a small team, headed by an "equipment Czar", with overall authority to "call the shots" on equipment maintenance.

Something like the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the States, for example.

The CMS comes up with very sensible policies, such as the "Alternate Equipment Management" (AEM) strategy that alows deviation from traditional, manufacturer-recommended maintenance (MRM) schedules. It advocates a practical, common sense approach, rather than just another fancy idea that gets left to wither on the vine once the novelty has worn off.

Anyone interested in AEM can look it up for themselves on line (to save me any more time here). You could start here.

Sometimes the old ways (organisations etc.) can't adapt ... then new ways come along, and we do things differently.

with respect Geoff

As a friend you and I agree a on lot

This is one expert, one person outside of the Trust, - completely independent from an healthcare organisation to ensure best best practice with links to the legal agencies, the likes of Public Health HSE etc in Decontamination and Infection control.

I have no axe to grind as I'm, off, my moral code mortally wounded, LOL its probably my Autism but I feel mortally injured

I think the same protection is needed re Medical Devices. or one risk assessment and you can do what the heck you like, in the name of cost savings, lives could be lost - not on my watch!

Re: your last paragraph ... it sounds like you've had some bad experience(s) there, Mate.

Modern approaches (such as AEM, Evidence-Based et al) do not allow a free-for-all attitude at all ... but simply permit (and expect) those responsible for tech support to keep abreast of all options.

Rather than a "one size fits all" (scatter-gun) approach, any and all methods may be on the cards (no PM at all, "run to fail", MRM, RCM and all the others). All in the interest of patient safety (what risk assessment is all about) and efficiency (the best use of limited resources). Cost savings hardly get a mention at all (as they should automatically accrue).

Have you taken a look at AEM? Each group of equipment - and (or) individual items in some cases - has to jump through many hoops (tick many boxes) in order to qualify for consideration. It is (should be) a continuous process of review. Otherwise, the PM default remains MRM.

AEM (etc.) requires a lot of documentation (for instance, the "evidence" in Evidence-Based Maintenance). My own problem is how best to incorporate such requirements within a traditional ("crude but effective") database system.

Yes thought about all of the above, too much. Essentially assimilated by the Borg before any consultation, little by little, it crept up on me - its kept me up so so many sleepless nights, nearly done for me. Anyway I can return to work soon, never felt so much love.

I've never been a NATO potato like my cold war spy brother rest his soul but I am a proud VET, one conflict and two wars, and proud to have looked after the likes RAF Halton & Headley Court - wasn't afraid of the Argentinians or Republican Guard so have no fears about the collective, and once patched up by our brilliant medics I can now rely on a happy lifetime with the best support ever - whatever I choose to do

Its the Dark Military humour that's kept me going mate.

I'm really so upset, they have stolen my limbo stick!

I mean, how low can you go?

LOL - Geoff as my interests have diversified in my old age (64) I find myself as well as an activist, writing a book, on TG 5 - you know the RAF equivalent of REME and RN at SEE Arborfield .

Well I'm writing a book on TG 5 - all i did was wrote was my story "Squeaky Dirty" the reckoning of SD - my full name Stephen Darren. Old comrades in arms then add their own stories, so simple but so funny and unbelievable and some great memoirs before we all loose or memory! Good heavens Greybeard - I'm going to have to edit some!!!! Some people will not believe what we got up to but that's hopefully catered for in the disclaimer

I was chatting to my dear and our mutual friend Ian Roberts of BCAS Biomed (we were on Radar/Bloodhound missiles at West Raynham and later MDSS - he said something really hilarious about you ..........

It's a pity I hadn't met Ian years before ... together we might have conquered the world.

I agree but -------- Aw, this just gets better -------------- He said Geoff Hannis?, I thought he was Dead!


Don't take to heart Geoff, Ian's a jetsetter these days, well deserved! And probably doesn't cheek into the forum so often - shades of Ian Wright!

Oh and back on topic Manufacturers (the gold standard) based vs other maintenance can you do a poll on here Huw?

Go ahead Darren. (You'll need to create a new post to access the poll manager.)

Ah - OK thank you so much Huw, I will do in a few days, I'm just stuck at home - absolutely cheesed off to tell you the truth - even had my phone confiscated by the good wife.

Should be back at work in a week or so and that'll do me

Bless her - after all these years together in the RAF and NHS - she still hasn't found the last stashed laptop. Love it when a plan cones together!