IPEM Welcomes Community Hubs Supported by Strong Clinical Engineering
IPEM has welcomed the Government’s announcement of new NHS Community Hubs, highlighting that the Clinical Engineering workforce is at the forefront of bringing this ambitious vision to life.
Gill Collinson, Chief Executive of IPEM, said:
“Moving patient care nearer to people’s homes is a welcome step. No one wants to go to hospital unless it’s really necessary.
Clinical Engineers play a vital role in making care closer to home a reality. They make sure that the medical equipment and technology within Community Hubs are safe, reliable and working as they should.
From blood pressure monitors and patient hoists to digital systems and diagnostic devices, Clinical Engineers ensure every piece of equipment is properly installed, tested and maintained. They also help connect these technologies so information can be shared safely and efficiently between healthcare teams.
By combining engineering expertise with an understanding of patient care, Clinical Engineers help create safe, effective and connected spaces where communities can receive high quality care closer to home."
The Department of Health and Social Care announcement said:
“The [Community Hub] leads, using general practice as the cornerstone, will draw together a range of professions to develop a neighbourhood health team consisting of community nurses, hospital doctors, social care workers, pharmacists, dentists, optometrists, paramedics, social prescribers, local government organisations and the voluntary sector - giving people easier access to the right care and support on their doorstep.
Neighbourhood health will benefit patients by providing end-to-end care and tailored support, looking beyond the condition at wider causes of health issues, helping to avoid unnecessary trips to hospital, prevent complications and avoid the frustration of being passed around the system.”
Gill Collnson added:
“IPEM is proud to represent Clinical Engineers, Clinical Technologists and Medical Physicists throughout the NHS. They are driving the innovation and operational excellence behind the NHS’s move to neighbourhood-based care.
We continue to lobby Ministers to ensure that we have sufficient numbers of these highly trained, expert staff, to deliver safe and effective patient care. Using IPEM’s highly respected workforce intelligence, we will continue to provide the hard data to support efforts to plan effectively for this growing and critical workforce.”