Epsom and St Helier cements seven-year plan
Asteral representatives and hospital staff sign the Asteral Select service contract.
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust has become Asteral’s ninth customer for its Asteral Select vendor-independent radiology managed equipment service contract. The service, which began in April, includes a comprehensive asset replacement programme as well as the managed maintenance of 77 clinical imaging systems.
In the first 18 months of the service patients will benefit from the replacement of 19 mobile and fixed systems, a DR upgrade on two x-ray rooms and the supply of two service efficiency ultrasound units. This initial investment of £2.25m in new technologies is being co-ordinated by Asteral’s vendor neutral experts, with demonstrations already underway to support each clinical team in selecting the most appropriate equipment for its patients.
Trust procurement project manager Darren Rees said: “To have our radiology capital plan agreed for the next seven years is a massive benefit and one that allows our radiology staff to plan equipment evaluations and installations in advance a comfortable position for everyone involved. This agreement alleviates the need for procurement and radiology staff to go through the capital bidding process on each piece of equipment, relieves us of the burden of managing the numerous maintenance agreements we had previously and significantly lowers our risk in terms of equipment failure.”
See the full report on page 13 of the September 2017 issue of RAD Magazine.