International law firm DAC Beachcroft has advised Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT) on its multi-million pound procurement for cutting-edge medical equipment which will streamline clinical workflows and improve patient care.
Medical equipment group Siemens Healthineers will collaborate with the Trust in a value partnership covering diagnostic imaging technology, cardiac catheterisation laboratories, theatres and critical care for the next 20 years.
The partnership will ensure access to the latest technology as well as holistic equipment management, consultancy and education at the Royal Victoria Hospital, which is managed by BHSCT.
BHSCT is one of the UK's largest integrated health and social care Trusts which delivers integrated health and social care to almost 340,000 citizens in Belfast and the surrounding region.
DACB consultant and medical equipment specialist Carol Sumner – who first advised BHSCT more than 17 years ago on the procurement of the outgoing contract – and solicitor Amie Roberts worked closely with a core executive team at BHSCT comprising consultant clinicians, lead radiologists, finance directors and commercial managers.
DACB's commercial health team has a long history of advising on diagnostic imaging managed service contracts, acting for numerous Trusts over a twenty-five-year period as well as being NHS Commercial Solutions' recommended legal advisers for its managed equipment services framework.
Carol Sumner commented, "It is rare to be involved in the re-procurement of such a long-term contract. We were able to structure the new procurement to optimise the benefit of operational knowledge of contractual requirements along with a general understanding of how the managed equipment market has matured, both, in terms of suppliers' offerings as well as their appetite for commercial risk."
Dr Cathy Jack, Chief Executive of BHSCT, said “This investment, over a 20-year period, will ensure the Royal Victoria Hospital continues to provide the highest standard of care to our patients and service users and remains at the leading edge of technological advancements in imaging and medical equipment. We look forward to developing our partnership in the years ahead, with patient safety and experience the central focus.”
Maureen Edwards, Senior Responsible Officer for the replacement managed equipment service on behalf of BHSCT's executive team, commented, "The advice and support Carol and Amie have given the Trust throughout this transaction has been excellent. Their engagement, commitment and professionalism has been impeccable and delivered with great warmth and positivity."
DACB's medtech and digital health team advises NHS and public sector bodies, funders, digital health and medtech companies on all legal issues, including major implementation projects. The team has decades of experience working on diagnostic imaging managed equipment contracts, pathology managed service contracts and healthcare information technology systems.
