Clinical engineering specialists Avensys have recently forged a strategic partnership with Probo Medical to offer NHS and private hospitals a single provider of EBME and Diagnostic Imaging services. The service offering covers consultation, device supply, maintenance and repair, and strategic planning with a reach that extends UK wide. The CEO of Avensys, Rob Strange, emphasizes the partnership’s commitment to delivering a new strategic option to the healthcare sector “Key to this arrangement is that both Avensys and Probo Medical are independent, vendor neutral companies. Our interest lies only in delivering excellent service and value for the customer and to that end of course, the patient. In working with Probo Medical we have found a company that not only shares our values but has the capability and reputation to help us disrupt a market which has perhaps become overly reliant on OEM maintenance contracts.”
The implementation of this partnership has commenced across one of the UKs largest healthcare groups, for Avensys and Probo Medical are jointly managing the maintenance of a range of bio-medical and Diagnostic Imaging (DI) equipment including anaesthetics, patient monitoring and x-ray, ultrasound, and CT.
With over 30 hospital locations across the UK to manage, the scale of this partnership is able to provide a responsive service to both EBME and DI requirements, ensuring device uptime is optimised and patient care remains at the highest standard.
From the customer’s perspective, the partnership streamlines operations by providing a single point of contact through Avensys, simplifying contractual arrangements and ensuring seamless coordination of maintenance tasks. Hospital management and frontline staff alike have been very satisfied with the arrangement, citing expertise in the partnership’s respective fields coupled with operational efficiency and a competitive price point.
This collaborative approach extends to software solutions, with Avensys’ Health Inventory Management Software (H-IMS) being used by both companies. Having been developed by Avensys specifically for the healthcare industry it is provided free of charge to customers and thus made it the obvious choice of inventory management software by the partnership. Avensys takes the lead in generating key performance indicator (KPI) reports and management information, enhancing accountability and oversight of both companies.
Moreover, Avensys facilitates the receiving, delivery, and commissioning of medical devices, ensuring thorough functional checks and proper documentation. This centralized process at Avensys’ Equipment Sales and Solutions (ESAS) hub enhances safety and efficiency, preventing devices from entering clinical use prematurely.
Probo Medical’s European Commercial Director, Danielle Langson, underscores the partnership’s advantages “This partnership allows two leading independent, vendor neutral service providers, who are specialists in their respective fields, to offer a simplified, all-encompassing solution to customers.”
In conclusion, the partnership between Avensys and Probo Medical represents a paradigm shift in hospital equipment maintenance and repair services, emphasizing specialist collaboration, efficiency, and patient-centric care. This comprehensive approach aligns with the needs of hospitals seeking integrated solutions for equipment management while requiring competitive pricing as budgets are put under pressure across the sector.
Picture: Julie Robinson – Probo Head of UK Service Sales, Darren Stokes – Probo European External Operations Director, Jack Polley – Avensys Clinical Engineer and Lucy Rudge Avensys Supply Chain Director