Medequip “extremely proud” to be awarded major integrated CES contract in the South West
Community equipment provider Medequip has been commissioned by BNSSG Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council and South Gloucestershire Council to manage the Integrated Community Equipment Service (ICES) across the region for five years.
Medequip has worked closely with all three authorities and the CCG for a number of years. The latest contract has been collaboratively commissioned by the BNSSG ICES Project Group, bringing together representatives from local authorities, NHS Trusts and Community Health providers to manage ICES under a single contract.
Local authority and health staff will share one system, with shared service user equipment records, using a new, improved ordering system and creating a single equipment catalogue.
In addition, Medequip will retain and enhance the teams and premises servicing the contract in Weston-Super-Mare and Emersons Green, building on local expertise and knowledge.
The company will also incorporate a number of service improvements, employing a full time occupational therapist and an occupational therapy assistant.
These Medequip clinicians will provide advice and support to all BNSSG prescribers, and supplement Medequip’s existing equipment technical specialists.
The operational side of the contract will also benefit from a new, improved ordering system and the cohesion of a single equipment catalogue across the BNSSG area.
Alongside practical service enhancements, Medequip is committed to using power from sustainable sources across its operations and will procure additional fully electric vehicles to service this contract as part of the company’s commitment to clean air initiatives.
Medequip has been adopting new technologies to reduce CO2 and NOx emissions since Autumn of last year, and more than 10% of the national fleet is now 100% electric powered.
Michaela Harris, General Manager for Medequip in the South West & Suffolk, stated: “On behalf of myself and the teams at Weston Super-Mare and Emersons Green, we are all extremely proud to be able to continue working with the BNSSG Commissioning teams and most importantly continuing to provide a high quality service across the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire regions. We look forward to building on our existing relationship and enhancing the service over the coming years.”
The new single contract will commence on 1st October 2022, running for five years to 30th September 2027, with an option for commissioners to extend for up to two years after this date. The contract will be held and managed by Bristol City Council on behalf of and reporting to the joint local commissioners.
Medequip also recently won the Integrated Community Equipment Service (ICES) contract for residents in Kingston upon Thames, London, and in April 2022, the provider started a new contract with BHR (Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge) ICES.
One of the longest-serving outsourced providers of community equipment services to the NHS and local authorities, Medequip took steps to broaden its customer base by joining forces with Dutch medical equipment group Medux in January.