November is always a busy time for Medequip, preparing for two major events happening at the same time, giving us an invaluable opportunity to engage and learn with commissioners, stakeholders and clinicians.
National Children and Adult Services Conference
We were pleased to exhibit at the National Children and Adult Services Conference (NCASC) in Bournemouth from 26-28 November. The Conference brings together people from local and central government as well as those representing voluntary organisations and the private sector, all of whom have an interest in the provision of effective services for children, young people, their families and adults.
Add to this the attendance and contributions from people with lived experience, including representatives from the Equipment Matters coproduction group convened and supported by Medequip, and you have even more relevance for the conference discussions.
NCASC gave us a vital opportunity to meet with senior leaders from many of the local authorities served by Medequip, and some who have alternative provision. We are able to share some of our ideas, experience and future solutions to the challenges of properly joining up Health and Social Care services, to listen to the Government’s ideas for neighbourhood health and wellbeing and think how we can provide a part of reorganised service provision.
There was also interest in our Technology Enabled Care (TEC) solutions provided by Medequip Connect, with our colleague Melanie Witter sharing some of the new proactive and preventative care ideas, systems and technology already being adopted by some local authorities.
We recognise the importance of participation in this annual event and have already booked our exhibition stand space in Liverpool next November.
The Occupational Therapy Show
Equally, the OT Show, held on 27-28 November, enabled us to showcase a range of Medequip services and initiatives to an interested audience. Engaging with occupational therapists and commissioners amongst others, we were able to demonstrate how people are at the centre of our service and how collaboration among all stakeholders ensures the best outcomes for service users.
We met with over 700 attendees, emphasising our person-centred approach, collaborative working practices, and how our teams help deliver better outcomes for service users. Engagement with OTs and commissioners was overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to next year when we plan to expand our stand to incorporate all aspects of Medequip’s business, including Ross Care Wheelchair Services, Medequip Connect (Technology Enabled Care), Consolor Manufacturing (seating and mobility specialists) and Manage At Home (online retail).