Leading CES providers come together to support NHS and local authorities
As the UK takes drastic measures to prevent the transmission and spread of COVID-19, leading outsource Community Equipment Services (CES) providers have agreed to work closely together during the pandemic to aid in the national effort and help maintain vital services.
Following detailed discussions, Medequip Assistive Technology, NRS Healthcare, Millbrook Healthcare, Ross Care and the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) have agreed to work together to maximise continuity for local authorities and the NHS throughout the current coronavirus outbreak.
Optimising planning and sharing information to ensure these organisations are able to provide maximum support for their services, senior directors from each business are now holding weekly conference calls to discuss key areas such as activity levels, geographical pressures and availability of qualified staff.
In a joint statement, the organisations state that this level of inter-company cooperation is designed to ensure best practice to maximise service user and employee protection and will deal with the management of key equipment and PPE availability, as well as specific area service continuity responses.
The joint working will also see best practice utilisation of staff from other providers within geographic regions extended, such as individuals who have been furloughed and kept on payroll, and also potentially providing assistance to vulnerable groups with food and medicine distribution.
This work is further enhanced by engagement with specialist teams set up by the NHS and local authorities across the country.
Working closely together, the five organisations assure that they are totally committed to ensuring safe continuity of service provision for the most vulnerable people in communities.