Medequip Operations Manager, Luke Derrick tells us about Medequip's involvement with a new project that could house up to 35 people that need to recover following their release from the hospital.
On the 7th of December, Bristol Community Equipment Services (BCES) contacted me us following the approval of a Care Hotel project being created in Bristol.
On the 7th of December, Bristol Community Equipment Services (BCES) contacted us following the approval of a Care Hotel project being created in Bristol.
They had a very short deadline to get 35 rooms set up for patients to be released from local hospitals but who remain in a care-provided setting until they have recuperated enough to return home.
The Care Hotel has live-in staff who are on hand to provide round-the-clock care.
We agreed to provide them with the service required. With an extensive list of equipment needing to be ordered, the depot and Medequip's purchasing department had a very short time frame to install it.
The initial requirement was for 75 pieces of equipment to be sent to the hotel. This included beds and mattresses (including bariatric specification products), over bed tables and commodes.
We were given 2 days to install, demonstrate and, in some cases, train the staff, some of whom were recruited from overseas to help. The hotel had to be open by the 20th of December.
Emersons Depot's Technician Team Leader, Joe Parker expedited a team of people to assist with the implementation.
We did not fail a single line, and the equipment was in place for the Care Hotel to go live on the 20th of December as planned.
Tom Lander, Commissioner for BCES spoke about the efforts of Medequip in getting the Care Hotel running. He said, I am very grateful for the support of Luke, Joe, Atlanta and all others in the local team at Medequip, as well as Arijan, Jade and others in the Procurement team in head office. They have been key to the success of this unprecedented project.
Medequip had short notice to procure all the equipment at a difficult time in the pandemic and the run-up to Christmas and New Year holidays. It was reassuring to know that everything was in place and carers trained in time for the first patients to arrive in the hotel.
Since the initial request, Medequip has provided more batches of equipment and will continue to deliver and collect from the hotel as the project progresses.
We are beyond proud of all involved, from start to finish, who helped us set up this fantastic initiative.