Medequip, providers of The Medway Integrated Community Equipment Service (MICES), were delighted to welcome guests to the first ever official Open Day at their Rochester Depot on Friday 22 April.
Medequip’s MICES provision commenced in September 2020 in the midst of the pandemic and to date, the company has supported in excess of 7,000 residents to help keep them independent for longer. The contract covers the supply, installation, repair, maintenance, collection and recycling of community equipment prescribed by Health or Social Care professionals.
The open day included a full site tour and an insight into how the day to day running of the service takes place - from procurement and storage through to how equipment is cleaned, repaired and safety checked, as well as how equipment is processed once ordered by a Health or Social Care Professional on behalf of Medway residents.
Guests were also able to learn more about Medequip’s environmental aims, such as the Returning Equipment Campaign and continued investment in the electrification of the delivery fleet to meet clean air objectives.
The official opening of the on-site retail shop took place with Councillor David Brake, Portfolio Leader for Adult Services, cutting the ribbon. The retail shop gives people the opportunity to purchase smaller daily living aids to empower independent living and to complete tasks they may be struggling with.
MICES is focused on recycling to reduce costs and environmental impact and offers a free and safe collection service for unwanted equipment upon request from the company’s Customer Service Team. To date, the sum total of equipment returned and made available again for the community stands at 86%, with all items unsuitable for re-issue stripped down and recycled. This saves on Medway Council’s Social Care and NHS funding, as equipment can be reissued instead of buying new.
To support this commitment and encourage residents to return community equipment that is no longer needed, Medequip and Medway Council have also set up amnesty bins located at Medway Hospital and Rochester Healthy Living Centre, making it more convenient to return more portable equipment at these designated drop-off points.
Councillor David Brake - Portfolio Leader for Adult Services at Medway Council praised Medequip and the Rochester Team and said:
“You have done a wonderful job. You know your business, so you know what we as customers want. Despite challenges like the pandemic you have served the Medway Community and on behalf of Medway Council and what I represent, I would like to say thank you for what you are doing.”