University Hospital of North Staffordshire installs 'freedom of choice' imaging systems into new hospital development
University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust has taken delivery of a portfolio of new medical imaging systems for its new hospital on the City General site to upgrade medical and diagnostic services for local patients. The equipment provision and project management is part of a 15 year Managed Equipment Service (MES) partnership with Siemens Healthcare. Under the agreement, ten new imaging systems from Siemens have been installed in addition to a variety of X-ray and ultrasound systems from other vendors.
Via the MES partnership, Siemens Healthcare will take care of the maintenance, provision and ongoing replacement of all imaging equipment for the life of the contract. This means that clinicians can focus on patient care leaving all the equipment concerns to Siemens. The new hospital, due to be fully operationally by autumn 2012, brings together several departments in one location for the first time.
The Siemens equipment installed includes: three MRI systems - two MAGNETOMR Skyra and one MAGNETOM Aera system; three CT systems - a SOMATOMR Definition Flash and two SOMATOM Definition AS systems; two angiography systems - a single plane Artis zeeT floor mounted system and Artis zee biplane system; and a SymbiaRT TruePoint SPECT.CT.
"The MES partnership with Siemens has helped to bring together previously disparate departments. We can be closer to the services that need us, improve patient flow and enhance the quality of diagnostic imaging for those departments. An example is the new CT system at the heart of the emergency department. We have been awarded Major Trauma Centre Status partly due to the definitive care and rapid diagnosis we are now able to provide for patients with complex injuries," said Alice Turner, Principal Radiographer at University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust. "A key benefit of the MES partnership is freedom of choice. In terms of equipment, we are not tied in to a vendor, we have the flexibility to choose the best on the market. Incidentally, we chose Siemens to supply our high-end systems."
"We are working very closely with University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust to guarantee provision of the latest medical equipment, simplify financial planning, provide regular maintenance and a planned replacement program," said Neil Mearns, MES Operations Manager - North and West at Siemens Healthcare. "The partnership approach helps to ensure we are meeting the hospital's needs now during its development stages and will oversee all contractual responsibilities into the future so that clinicians are able to focus on providing the highest level of service to patients."
About Siemens Healthcare
The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry and a trendsetter in medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, medical information technology and hearing aids. Siemens offers its customers products and solutions for the entire range of patient care from a single source - from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, and on to treatment and aftercare. By optimising clinical workflows for the most common diseases, Siemens also makes healthcare faster, better and more cost-effective. Siemens Healthcare employs some 51,000 employees worldwide and operates around the world. In fiscal year 2011 (to September 30), the Sector posted revenue of 12.5 billion euros and profit of around 1.3 billion euros. For further information please visit: www.siemens.com/healthcare.
For more information or images please contact:
Siemens Healthcare
Laura Bennett
T: 01276 696374
E: laura.bennett@siemens.com
W: http://www.siemens.co.uk/healthcare
Marc Gossage / Charlotte Rowland
Media Safari
T: 01225 471202
E: marcg@mediasafari.co.uk
