EBME Forums Forums Free discussion Free discussion "Occupied" EBME Territorys

Ray

Quite a comprehensive proposal by both parties.

I use to work for GE on the Biomed side of M.S.V. and was one of the "first of the few" in this field for them.

I was also instrumental in the "take-over" that happened at Hillingdon, being involved from "Day 1" there.

If you'd be interested I'd be prepared to discuss with you my views.
Unfortunately at this moment of time I think we could only do this by private e-mail and not on the Forum.

Or if you'd like to speak "face to face", e-mail me and I'll give you my phone number,

I think I could let you have a good insight from my experience "on the ground" and give you objective feedback.

When are you guy's gonna learn that you "don't get something for nothing"? I don't know about other departments but the ones I do know of have a large element of "good will", i.e. services "up and beyond the call of duty" so to speak. Do you honestly believe these "Employment Rapists" can give a better service. DO ME A FAVOUR

Go For it Dave

I think youve got to view this (msv, pfi. etc) as something thats here to stay and that it has its place in society somewhere. These type of things are a bit like the local council moving gypsies in next door to you, your not really interested unless they are affecting you personally, whilst they are at the other side of town its someone elses problem. As soon as they make a move on you then thats different. I attended a meeting put on by PASA about 12 months ago, its theme was msv and all the big players, including the ones you mention gave presentations. Also talking was Joe Riley who demonstrated with graet effect the fact that you get what you pay for. EBME depts offer a far extended service than any Msv / Pfi agreement will offer you and whats more we are here for the benefit of the patients and our employer, not to get as much money ot of the NHS as possible for as little work as possible.
That said I think if I was a green senior manager in a new trust, that didnt have any staff and was preached to by these suppliers id think they are great,some of these guys could sell ice to eskimos, or flog you a chocolate kettle theyre so good with the patter.
Therefore I would say again what has only been said a million times before and will probably be pontificated several million times more.
If we share info and dont sit on our laurels we can help keep the nhs for the people its supposed to be for "patients" not the bean counters that want the money for their shareholders.
As you can probably guess Im having a bad day.

Hi Ray,

Very interesting! As far as I can see there is one and only reason why a huge corporation would take over hospital departments like ours 1) To grease the palms of their share holders by 2) increasing their empire. The patient and the taxpayer, like you, and me are irrelevant in these calculations. Not once in all their rhetoric has the patient been mentioned.

Also the say, quote “and supply contracts allow a 4%saving on existing maintenance contracts whereas going direct can achieve a minimum of a 10%.GE can purchase Keymed components from alternative routes of supply.” Our Trust went to an alternative supplier of a contract to maintain endoscopes, which incidentally was a G.E. run company, because it was “cheap” thereafter the Trust fell flat on it's fat face because some of the scopes were unable to be repaired because the parts were not available, so they had to go back to Keymed at vast expense, you can imagine the smug look on Keymed's face, but who can blame them, because they are making out of it at the of the day.

Have they forgotten “caveat emptor”?

I agree that you get what you pay for and that going from an in-house EBME dept. to a MSV/PFI deal may mean some loss in service for the trust concerned.

It's up to the EBME dept. to raise its profile and let the directorates know what they've got and the service it provides (including the "while you're here" and "can you just" type of jobs that we do as a matter of course. Ultimately we're here to serve the patients and that their needs should be the ultimate driving force, not profit.

It comes down to "you don't know what you've go 'til it's gone" and by then your screwed.

It's up to the EBME dept. to raise its profile and let the directorates know what they've got and the service it provides

Does anybody have any suggestions, experience in raising your departmental profile, you lot seem to chatter a lot about the subject, has any one of you actually achieved it ?

Kate X

This topic is an old hat. I run a big Medical Physics across 4 hospital sites, dewsbury, clayton, Pinderfields and Pontefract. I sit on Capital group chaired by Chief Executive and report to him on all Medical equipment issues. He is very mobile and keen to see my dept developed. We have 30 staff. It has taken me 10 years to raise the profile. What do I do? Get out of my office, walk round wards, talk to everybody and listen to their problems and work with them. Check the download section for my policy which has 99% compliance. Get off your back sides and ring me or John sandham. I am afraid to tell you that this profession may disappear in 5 years time not because of GE, but for us not being united.

alex
01924-816074

Ostentation my dear Alex, ostentation. Louis applauds your stand and hard earned success, you have made it work for you. a-hum-dillila my numero uno. The obvious solutions are always overlooked by the blinkered. Since day one of Louis signing up to this wonderful and glorious cyber station www.ebme.co.uk, Louis has always fornicated his alliance to the cause, i.e. the cause to coition and unite our brotherhood of men/women throughout this green and wonderful land and join, my friends, yes join as one. United we stand, divided we fall. Take a bow Alex my patriotic proponent, take a bow my good and loyal friend.

Louis III

Alex,
Youve got some good points, but like myself your working in an envoirement that agrees with you and where you have access to reasonable people.
Unfortunately not all our colleges have such luxury and may be in an organisation which is driven by someone who, once he gets a letter sent directly to him from a EBME predatory company offering to save him hundreds of thousands, will act upon it to gain brownie points or just to simply make life easier for himself (sorry or herself, no sexism meant or implied).
Sadly once these suppliers get in the door we will become extinct as an animal, Im not sure that some NHS senior management reallise this. They think whats happened with the nurses will be just as easy with us. Get shut and when you want them back they will come in their droves, sadly again, I dont think engineers are the same animal as nurses and once theyve gone, as they say in the advert for a major DIY store, theyve gone.
Also to say this topic is old hat is fine if it doesnt affect you, Im sure the bods that have or are affected would have a completely different view.
As for Louis, hes just being himself again. Or is he someone else ?

Karl,

I agree with your views - companies will keep pushing if they think they have a chance to get their foot in the door.