The Bulletin REPRESENTING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN HEALTHCARE
ISSUE 45 - APRIL 2016
New approaches READ MORE INSIDE… NEW TRAINING DIRECTION… MEMBER NEWS... NEW SUPPLIER SEARCH…
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Nothing to declare? There has in recent years been increasing scrutiny and disquiet over ‘gifts’ from companies to NHS officials – this reached the national media with a Daily Telegraph expose in July 2015. At their Board meeting in March, NHS England gave several examples that have led to questions about the way conflict of interest is managed including; • Staff being paid upwards of £500 a day to attend meetings to be lobbied by industry to adopt products for use in the NHS and, • The Carter review finding that at one point 650 sales representatives were targeting one hospital in England, with 65 on site at one time This issue is not unique to England –figures recently released by the Centre for Medicare and Mediaid in the USA, collected in Line with the Sunshine Act showed that in 2014 $6.5bn worth of payments were made to over 600,000 clinicians by medical product manufacturers and others. Following the meeting, NHS England announced new measures to ensure that NHS staff that ignore their “ethical duties” over conflicts of interest will risk losing their licence to practise. Actions proposed cover declarations of interest and a ban on the acceptance of gifts from suppliers of goods and services. Strong industry led codes and Credentialing were cited as supporting measures. It can be argued that many of the measures announced are in response to activities by pharmaceutical companies. However, it will not only be these businesses’ propositions that will be affected – many BHTA member companies and their staff will also fall under this greater scrutiny. Work by the BHTA on your behalf has ensured that we are now ahead of the game in many respects. Our Code of Practice
is now one of the strongest and most recognised in the industry – and remains the only one in healthcare with external accreditation and oversight thanks to our relationship with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. We’ve also recognised the importance of ensuring that industry staff are appropriately trained for their role and undertake continuing professional development. The Healthcare & Assistive Technology Society (HATS) now has in excess of 700 members from all Sections of our industry. HATS’ work to achieve Voluntary Register status with the Professional Standards Authority puts the Society in a strong position to evidence how members meet proposed credentialing standards. And the BHTA’s flagship training offering, the Healthcare & Assistive Technology course, provides all delegates with clear guidance on our Code of Practice and other key legislation. Given the rapidly changing landscape in which we operate (not to mention the Association’s internal changes) the recent joint strategic meeting of the Board and Council was a timely opportunity for the Association to review successes to date and articulate clearly our aspirations for the future. Members confirmed that the Mission for the BHTA is to ‘ Champion an ethical market in which members can profitably provide healthcare and assistive technology products and services.’ A challenging statement that myself and the BHTA team look forward to working with you and for you on in the coming years!`
Traceyloyd, Director General
Contents Westminster watch.................................................................................................. 3 BHTA takes training in a new direction!................................................................. 4 Public-Private partnership promotes AT to West Midlands’ consumers................. 5 New qualification for Prosthetic, Orthotic and Orthopaedic Footwear Technicians.6 Andrew Marr and Jackie Ashley at the Alf Morris lecture....................................... 7 New supplier search discounted for BHTA members............................................ 5 Businesses prepare to meet with Naidex. Connects. at Naidex 2016.................... 8 Member news...................................................................................................... 9 Section Chairs 2016........................................................................................... 14 New members.................................................................................................... 15
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WESTMINSTER WATCH by Lord Rennard
European referendum In 1975, I remember as a teenager helping to “Keep Britain in Europe” in the referendum campaign of that year. It seemed then that “all the sensible people” seemed to be in favour of staying in, whilst it was “a bunch of extremists” that wanted to “get Britain out”. The result appeared to be decisive and even the Daily Mail reported the huge ‘Yes’ vote as an unqualified verdict. But referendums, as is now clear in Scotland, do not settle anything and so the vote on June 23rd will not prevent debates about Britain’s future in Europe for many years to come. The recent BHTA council meeting discussed the views of member companies, following a survey asking their opinions. About two thirds of those responding were in the “Remain” camp, whilst a significant minority in the survey favoured “Brexit”. Almost all the big business organisations in the country, such as the CBI, are arguing strongly that “Brexit” would be very bad for business, whilst polling shows that many (often older) people believe that they can vote for return to some sort of “independence” of the kind that we supposedly enjoyed pre 1975. My own views are obviously fairly clear from this short article. These are not just based on the need for economic stability and to negotiate trade deals from within, but about the need to sustain peace, security and democracy across the whole of Europe, and a belief in the need to act together on issues such as climate change and the environment. But in so far as anyone can get impartial information about the issues, they can do no better than look at the excellent briefings from the Parliamentary libraries: http://www.parliament.uk/business/ publications/research/eu-referendum/
Procurement issues in the Healthcare sector The recent BHTA Council also recently considered a paper, drafted by BHTA’s Director of Public Affairs, Ray Hodgkinson, and me, highlighting concerns about future procurement policies, particularly relating to NHS England. Lord Carter was recently commissioned by the government to look at procurement issues. His report https://www.gov.uk/ government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/ file/434202/carter-interim-report.pdf suggested that there should be a much smaller list of products for the NHS to choose from than is currently the case, and that significant savings can be achieved.
It is important now that careful consideration is also given to making sure that there is sufficient choice to give patients the most appropriate care, and avoid problems that may result in more expensive secondary care treatment in future. Assistive technology often provides routes for saving such costs by enabling people to live better lives, more independently, and without unnecessary dependency on the secondary sector. Too often, the Treasury effectively dictates policy based on quite short-term considerations. It’s important in all these issues to consider how we can increase emotional well-being, that is often hard to quantify, whilst also enabling people to make positive contributions to society in ways such as increasing their capacity to work and pay tax, as opposed to being dependent upon benefits. The Government is looking more closely at the use of tariff mechanisms and personal budgets to underpin provision and introduce better patient choice. Well managed tariffs linked to personal budgets may help to create better competition, attract more players to the market and provide a better environment for innovation. The opportunity for patients to add to their provision via personal budgets will help the market to grow, in spite of the clear limitations on increasing public funding.
NHS funding The new book “Coalition” by my friend David Laws reveals what I have always said about political parties and funding for the NHS and social care. They dare not tell the truth. In 2014, Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England, showed quite clearly how the NHS in England needed an additional £30 million pa by 2020 in order to survive in its present form. The published version of his five-year plan, said that only £8 million pa needed to come from the public purse in order to finance this, and that £22 million could be found from efficiency savings. Few people with any knowledge of the NHS believed that savings on this scale were mooted achievable. David’s book now reveals that Stevens told the government that it would have to find at least £14 billion pa, but he was told for political reasons to cut this down to £8 billion. So there will either have to be much more drastic cuts in NHS and social care provision, or some means of providing extra resource in the form of taxes if the existing model of NHS and care provision is to survive over the next few years.
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BHTA takes training in a new direction! By Philip Woodward, Accreditation and Professional Manager As a professional trade body, the BHTA is involved in a variety of activities aimed at raising the industry’s profile and promoting best practice. One of the key areas that the BHTA has become mindful of over recent years is the need of employers to be able to confidently signpost their staff to trusted and endorsed commercially available training relevant for the sector and their roles. In addition to this it is important to acknowledge the high level of internal in-house training that members are already delivering to their staff. The BHTA has been working to set up a scheme to review training courses, endorsing those that meet the BHTA’s assessment criteria and are felt likely to support members in their commitment to section 6 of the BHTA/CTSI Code of Practice, Training of Staff/Ongoing Development. A pilot of the scheme has been completed, providing a review of the assessment process and highlighting areas for further consideration and development. The pilot was run with a multi-levelled Employee Clinical Training Programme, recently developed by BHTA member company James Leckey Design Ltd. The course is delivered through a mix of blended learning, utilising both on site facilities and online/distance learning. I am delighted to state that the pilot was successful and the first two levels of the course have been endorsed with the third stage being currently assessed at the time of writing. Successful training providers will be allowed to use specially created versions of the BHTA logo on their course literature and will receive a Certificate of Endorsement from the BHTA. At the heart of this scheme however is the desire to aid employers in their duty to develop staff and recognise the valuable skills and knowledge being held by individuals working in the assistive technology sector. The pilot course was developed by Leckey’s Clinical Manager and Occupational Therapist, Clare Canale, who says: “Understanding the clinical needs of the children we work with, even at a basic level, is fundamental to each and every employee recognising the importance of their individual
Clare Canale with BHTA Training Endorsement certificate
contribution to improving the quality of life of children with disabilities. Undertaking clinical training and the endorsement by BHTA helps to reinforce just how important this contribution is.” Leckey’s Human Resources Manager, Beverley Copeland, agrees. Beverley said: “We believe that the high quality of our products and services are a reflection of the skills of our workforce, the investment that we make to their development and their commitment to continually learn. This training programme is a significant step for us as an employer because it is an accredited programme for every team member and supports our overall aim of retaining and developing our Investors in People accreditation and creating a great place to work through developing our people.” Having run a successful pilot, we welcome applications from all BHTA members for course endorsement and I look forward to taking the programme forward with you all. For further information, please contact Philip Woodward at training@bhta.com Visit the BHTA website for an application form at www.bhta.com
The team at James Leckey Design Ltd that recently undertook the BHTA endorsed training
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Public-Private partnership promotes Assistive Technology to West Midlands’ consumers Over the last couple of months, 14 Local Authorities covering the West Midlands have launched a unique public awareness drive to promote Assistive Technology. The campaign has adopted the ‘AT Home’ brand (www. athome.uk.com) and is designed to encourage people to think about how independent living and mobility equipment can help people to continue to live independently in a healthy and safe environment at home. The ‘AT Home’ campaign is supported by Naidex who have funded the design and production of a promotional tool kit and web site for local authorities to use.
Research has consistently confirmed that awareness of Assistive Technology is very low, held back by a combination of factors, including the historical dominance of this sector by the State. A recent study led by Coventry University found that 60% of consumers questioned said that lack of awareness was a barrier to greater use/purchase of Assistive Technology. However, the same research also found that 85% felt that the costs of purchasing would be worth it, if it would make life easier*. This demonstrates that people are willing to pay, from their own pockets, for products and services, provided that they feel it will help. This initiative aims to reach people whilst they might still be termed a ‘consumer’ before their needs increase, helping to prevent them from tipping over to becoming ’a patient’ or service user. Commenting on the launch of the campaign Linda Sanders, the ADASS National lead for Assistive Technology said: “The 14 local authorities in the West Midlands have come together to support this campaign to raise awareness of the simple bits of technology that are available from the high street to assist people to remain independent at home and to prevent them from relying on much stretched public services.” Ian James, the West Midlands chair of ADASS added: “This is a great example of councils collaborating together to promote a simple message across our region about what friends and relatives can do to help their loved ones stay at home and maintain their independence without needing to involve council services.” BHTA members, both retailers and suppliers particularly those based in the West Midlands, can participate by joining forces with their local authority. For further information, contact Nathan Downing (nathan. downing@outlook.com) or David Silver david.silver@ yearsahead.co.uk *Based upon research conducted as part of Coventry University’s COMODAL project (www. http://comodal.co.uk/)
New supplier search discounted for BHTA members A brand new portal has been created that will give suppliers lots of additional exposure if they are looking to promote to either the trade or key professionals.
profile details and to keep the information fresh and relevant. It’s very easy to use and means companies are in charge of the content being carried on the new site.
Productsupplier.co.uk is the new search facility created for ‘Website Partners’ with BHTA Engage. Website Partners have their new product information added to two websites – THIIS and AT Today – both visited each day by hundreds of trade and professional contacts.
Using the domain www.productsupplier.co.uk it is anticipated that the new site will attract visitors directly too.
Website Partner companies have all their new products listed on both THIIS and AT Today websites, with every entry having telephone and website links. The new ProductSupplier portal, which will be highly visible on both THIIS and AT Today websites, enables companies to update
There is no additional cost for Website Partner companies. The cost is just £1 a day, but that is discounted by 10% for BHTA member companies. For more information on how to get your products listed if you are not currently a Website Partner company, go to www.productsupplier.co.uk and see which companies are using the service.
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New qualification for Prosthetic, Orthotic and Orthopaedic Footwear Technicians By Philip Woodward, Accreditation and Professional Manager A much needed, and long awaited, training course specifically for Orthotic and Prosthetic Technicians was launched at the 206 BAPO conference. The Professional Development Award (PDA) in Rehabilitation Technologies offers a flexible way of learning to fit in with a candidates own pace of learning and to accommodate work related timescales. The course has received national accreditation through the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). At the conference Ian Adam, Orthotic Rehabilitation Technician at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children, presented the format of the course with the designers of the online modules (Glasgow Clyde College) and representatives from the SQA were on hand to answer questions from the audience. Technicians have long been recognised as an integral part of the patient care pathway but with no formal recognition of the work carried out behind the scenes in the workshop, so this course aims to support those with many years’ experience as well as those who have become technicians in more recent years. The format for learning is very much ‘on the job’ with mandatory on-line modules providing a sound background in topics such as anatomy, biomechanics and materials alongside workplace based, practical modules covering orthotic and prosthetic manufacturing techniques. The project to set up the course has been supported by the BHTA (British Healthcare Trades Association) and OETT (Orthotic Education and Training Trust) and we hope to see the first students enrolling this summer. In addition to Ian’s involvement from the public sector, the course has been supported by industry throughout the development process. Kay Purnell, Business Development
Left to Right: John Edmonstone, GCC; Kay Purnell, BHTA; Ian Adam, BAPO; Louise Gaddi, SQA; Philip Woodward, BHTA
Manager at Blatchford’s Clinical Services was appointed a member of the working group and states; “Ian has done a fantastic job in tying together all elements of the course, we knew what we wanted to achieve and Ian has helped us to get to the finish line with a very comprehensive course that can be delivered in a way which least affects the daily work routine of candidates. It was essential to ensure that the course could be delivered in the workplace which meant translating lectures to on-line learning modules as well as formalising a way to recognise the essential practical skills employed by technicians. Importantly, the course will offer recognition of skills for those already working as technicians as well as appealing to those who may be considering a role as a technician in the future, and is long overdue.”
THIS IS A FINANCIAL PROMOTION
Charity Trustee Indemnity Insurance Trustee Duties Once you become a trustee, you will have certain duties and be required to follow relevant legislation for your country. The following are general duties all trustees across the UK have: • Duty of care • Duty of prudence • Duty to comply
Personal Liability
Trustee Indemnity Insurance
If a trustee acts imprudently or is in breach of the law or governing document, he or she may be held personally responsible for any liabilities the charity incurs as a result. Because trustees act collectively, they could be collectively responsible for meeting this liability.
Trustee indemnity insurance (TII) covers trustees from having to personally pay legal claims made against them, either by the charity or a third party, for negligence or for a breach of trust or duty. TII can be purchased by the charity as a benefit for the trustee or by the trustee individually. However, there are limits on what the cover will apply to—specifically, costs related to a criminal fine or penalty, and costs from the trustee being convicted of fraud, dishonesty or reckless conduct.
Trustees can help reduce their personal liability risk by taking actions such as the following: • Familiarising themselves with the governing document • Establishing effective induction procedures for new trustees • Seeking professional advice when needed, when unsure
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about duties or when required by statute • Implementing effective internal management and financial controls • Knowing what areas of law might affect the charity’s activities, such as employment, health and safety, human rights and data protection • Ensuring that the charity has the resources to meet its requirements under any contract it signs, and understanding the consequences if there is a breach of contract
Not only can trustees be held liable for a breach of duties, but the charity itself can also be held liable. TII can include
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Andrew Marr and Jackie Ashley discuss adapting to a life changing event at the Alf Morris lecture On Thursday March 17th, the second Alf Morris Lecture was given by Andrew Marr, journalist and TV presenter, and his wife, ex-Guardian journalist Jackie Ashley. The event was attended by many leading names from the disability world and plans are already underway for next year’s Lecture. Andrew and Jackie discussed their experiences adapting to life after Andrew’s stroke in 2013. This was the first time they have talked as a couple about their experiences, sharing their insights on the effects on family and work life, rehabilitation and the need for better access to help and information. During the evening Andrew talked about many topics such as how following his stroke he was discharged without nearly enough physiotherapy and how hard and repetitive the post stroke therapy can be. Andrew also touched on the difference that even the most basic daily living aids can make and the often high cost of private physiotherapy once someone has been discharged. Andrew said: “‘There are lots of aids out there and stroke recovery can take years and years and years. It’s about how much independence people can get back and even the most basic pieces of equipment can make the difference between coping and not being able to cope. But it’s information about these things (like a leg brace) that people do not necessarily know about. With regards to the cost of additional private post stroke physiotherapy – this is something the vast majority of people cannot afford but it can make such a huge difference to your long term recovery”.
protection for the charity against corporate liabilities arising from claims due to a breach of duties by a trustee or senior management. This can include legal and defence costs, awards and settlements. If you would like further information regarding how Trustee Indemnity Insurance can be used effectively in your business, please contact David Widdick at david.widdick@icbgroupuk. com The information in this article is for information only and must not be considered as financial advice. We always recommend that you seek independent financial advice before making any financial decisions. The information in this article is for information only and must not be considered as financial advice. We always recommend that you seek independent financial advice before making any financial decisions. The BHTA Preferential Members Insurance Scheme is provided for BHTA by ICB Group of Virginia House, 35 - 51 Station Road, Egham, Surrey, TW20 9LB. ICB Group and BHTA are not part of the same group as any of the product/service providers which together form the insurance scheme. BHTA is an Introducer Appointed Representative of ICB Group who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You can check this out on the Financial Services register by visiting http://www.fsa.gov.uk/register/home.do, under register number 306088.
Jackie spoke passionately about how government should look at the cost-benefits of offering increased levels of care after discharge from hospital with a view to getting more people back into full-time employment and how much the economy would save in the long term. Care from the NHS and social care often ends after as little as six weeks and the timing varies as you move around the UK. “This is a massive issue as people can be working, earning, contributing and paying taxes”. Jackie also spoke about the need for carers’ leave “I took the best part of a year off to look after Andrew but many people are unable to do this and I hope that one day carers’ leave will be available to people in a similar situation to us”. Both Andrew and Jackie had previously been aware of living with disability through Jackie’s father, the late Jack Ashley, who was MP for Stoke on Trent from 1966 to 1992 before being ennobled as Baron Ashley of Stoke. Following a routine ear operation in 1967, Jack became profoundly deaf but, being tenacious and driven, he dedicated the rest of his life to campaigning for disability rights. He was a founder of the AllParty Parliamentary Disability Group, which was a vital support to Alf Morris when the latter was driving what became the Chronically Sick & Disabled Persons Act through Parliament. He was also instrumental in getting the Disability Discrimination Act passed in 1995. Launched by the Disabled Living Foundation, the Alf Morris Fund for Independent Living was set up to honour a man who made a difference to the most vulnerable members of society. The Fund will help people find out about the resources available to keep them independent, and to help them make choices. Its purpose echoes Alf’s vision, in his own words, “adding life to years” rather than just years to life.
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Businesses prepare to meet with Naidex. Connects. at Naidex 2016 April 2016 will see an unprecedented focus on trade and healthcare professionals within the disability and assistive technology market as part of the UK’s longest running event for this specialist sector: Naidex! With around 200 exhibitors showcasing at the show and around 9,000 attendees anticipated, there’s growing excitement about the upcoming features for this year – many of which are being showcased on the new-look Naidex website, which was only unveiled at the start of this year (www.naidex.co.uk).
One of the highlights of the Naidex 2015 show was the introduction of the unique business networking facility, ‘Naidex. Connects’, allowing guests to pre-plan their visit and never miss out on a meeting with other key exhibitors, other visitors and potential contacts.
One of the most exciting changes to the 3-day format is the introduction of a “Trade and Healthcare Professionals Only Day” providing visitors and exhibitors with the exclusive opportunity to schedule meetings and explore the latest technologies and developments in the market.
The free online portal allows pre-registered trade visitors and healthcare professionals direct access to exhibitors and makes it easy to book meeting space to suit the schedule of their visit, helping to ensure all guests can get the most out of their time at Naidex.
The exhibitor list – from both the international and UK markets – will once more feature some of the biggest names from the sector, appealing to retailers and trade guests from all areas of sales.
Other benefits of the facilitated meetings include:
As a taster, some of the top returning exhibitors will include: TGA Mobility, Ottobock, Sunrise, Kymco, ArjoHuntleigh and NRS, with exciting new UK and international exhibitors, such as: Rewalk (Germany), LIW Care (Poland), Vassilli (Italian), Trekinetic all terrain (UK), GennyMobility (Italian/UK) and Permobil (UK).
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• Booking meetings to ensure a full diary that suits your personal schedule • Receiving tailored meeting suggestions, advice and lists of suitable prospects/contacts • 24/7 access to the ‘matching’ portal - a quick and easy online tool To visit Naidex please go to https://registration.n200.com/surve y/0n4qvwwu3hzbl?actioncode=BHTA1 to register.
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OwnFone release new Footprint London based telecare manufacturer OwnFone have released their latest product to the market, Footprint. The small, lightweight unit works just like a mobile phone, allowing two-way hands-free communication via the central button which also sends a text with location if linked to a smartphone. The device also comes with a range of features, including Google map location, speed sensors and fall detectors, as well as additional security which allows the device to be called silently if the operator believes the users to be in an emergency situation. The company saw the need within telecare for a GPS tracking device that was suited to either Lone Workers or for those living with dementia and have been delighted with the positive reaction it has received since launch. Footprint is currently on trial with numerous councils & telecare providers across the UK and is being rolled out across Essex by Provide CIC as a Lone Worker solution for 500+ staff members. Each unit will be configured in advance by OwnFone for “ Staff safety immediate use.
is important to us and we found there were areas of improvements with regards to lone working ”
Mike Fair, Health and Safety, Resilience and Security Manager for Provide said: “Staff safety is important to us and we found there were areas of improvements with regards to lone working. “We undertook an extensive trialling programme with
various lone working companies who offered both lone working devices and mobile phone apps but staff found that the mobile phone device apps were hard to use, some required knowledge of a smart phone and they also did not meet the British Standard for a Lone Worker device.
Mike Fair
“We also found that some of the lone working devices on offer were difficult to use and didn’t offer the reliability that was needed in an emergency. Ownfone, however, offered us a device which was easy to use, discreet, efficient, reliable and offered great value for money. The service received so far has been excellent and I am confident it will prove to be a reliable Lone Worker device for our staff”.
OwnFone offers free of charge access to their web portal which is held on a secure server to ensure protection of confidential data. Footprint is IP66 waterproof rated and also BS8484 (lone worker device) certified. All units are fitted with a fully roaming SIM which searches for the strongest available mobile network signal. Data packages are available annually which allow for budget control and ease of administration. Sales Director, Sarah Watts said “We were asked continuously by Telecare providers to add GPS to our mobile phone. “Our core thinking at OwnFone is to give anyone the ability to have mobile communication in a cost effective way so rather than add to the cost of OwnFone we decided to increase our portfolio with a stand-alone GPS product. “We believe that Footprint and the bespoke service we give to end users and Telecare providers alike stand us apart from any other GPS unit in the market today.” Footprint is currently being used by Bracknell Forest in their Pocket Pal scheme. Bracknell Forest were recently filmed by ITV news, showcasing how Footprint is helping those living with dementia. The feature can be viewed at http://www.itv.com/ news/meridian/update/2016-03-08/new-pocket-pal-offerslifeline-to-vulnerable-and-elderly/
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Patterson gets social online with Facebook launch Patterson Medical has launched their new Facebook page and says it is confident that social media will enhance its future communications to both customers and business partners. Emma Davies-Carolan, Patterson Medical’s Retail Marketing & Communications Manager said: “The motivation behind our presence on Facebook is to share not only what we are doing as a business but also to engage a much wider audience, benefiting not only us as a business but also our customers. Not only will Facebook allow us to extend our reach within the market but it’s also a novel and exciting way of getting our customers to engage in what we do as a business.” She added: “Inviting customers to like our posts will offer certain insights into what works well and what isn’t so popular; allowing us to prioritise our marketing activity and enabling us to create relevant posts going forward. In essence, this is about really getting to know our customers.” Emma also believes that Facebook will offer the company efficiency compared to more traditional marketing, such as direct mail and eshots, which can easily become lost in an overpopulated email inbox. “We can produce instant posts at short notice which will land with our customers instantaneously.” The Facebook page is at https://www.facebook. com/Patterson-Medical-UK-Independent-Living1141087352568874/?fref=ts
Correction from Bulletin Issue 44: www.apexmedicalcorp.co.uk
New TGA Mobility video assists retailers and promotes BHTA A new TGA video is now available for all TGA retailers to share online, introducing its mobility scooter range and encouraging customers to seek BHTA approved resellers. Presented by Tim Ross, TGA National Sales Manager, the video highlights several of the most popular mobility scooters from the company’s award-winning portfolio, including the Minimo, Vita and Breeze S4. The video is a useful free resource for retailers to promote their range of TGA mobility scooters by demonstrating product quality and reliability. At the end of the sequence there is a strong message from TGA explaining why only BHTA Approved Retailers should be sought when purchasing a scooter from high street mobility showrooms. The final call-to-action encourages viewers to contact the retailer of the website on which the video is displayed. This professionally produced video is available to all TGA approved retailers via the TGA Trade E-zone: http://www. tgamobility.co.uk/trade
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The new product video from TGA encourages consumers to only visit a BHTA approved high street retailer to purchase a TGA mobility scooter
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Alphamarque celebrates 25 years in the mobility retail market Alphamarque is a family owned company created to serve those in the community to make life easier in and around the home. Alphamarque retails thousands of products from scooters and stairlifts to shoes and hosiery. The product range is expanding all the time as needs become greater. Alphamarque puts great emphasis on offering excellent customer service in a friendly and non-pressurised manner. The company always does its best to help. Product assessments are offered and customers can be measured for all types of chairs, footwear and walking sticks. The company’s aim is to get it right first time. Alphamarque was one of the first mobility companies to open a successful retail business when it opened its first shop in the Galleria Outlet Centre in Hatfield Hertfordshire in 1997 following a very successful launch of its mobile showroom business which started in 1991.
We look forward to our association continuing for the next 25 years and working with this extraordinary family business.” Geoff Morris at Uniscan commented: “Congratulations from Uniscan Limited to Alphamarque upon reaching their 25 year milestone of uninterrupted business. It is and has been a pleasure to supply such a professional, caring and friendly family business for 25 years. A strong, trusting relationship between supplier and retailer is fundamental to successful business and that is exactly what a supplier gets when dealing with Alphamarque. Very best wishes for your future success from the Uniscan family team.” The shop locations are:
Other shops opened in Colchester, Essex in 1999 and in St. Albans, Hertfordshire in 2007. Each shop is well merchandised with attractive product displays. The shops have level access with plenty of room to accommodate customers with wheelchairs and powered vehicles. 2016 is a special year for Alphamarque. They are celebrating 25 years since they were founded in 1991. In that time the company has grown continuously having started with one mobile showroom and now has two large shops with two mobile showrooms meeting the needs of customers throughout South East England. John Negus at Cosyfeet said: “We at Cosyfeet would like to be able to congratulate Grahame, Nick, Caroline and the team at Alphamarque on their 25thAnniversary. We are delighted to have been associated with Alphamarque for the past 23 years and they are our longest serving stockist. During those 23 years we have always been impressed with the level of customer service and product knowledge shown by the team at Alphamarque. Such retail success and longevity in the mobility industry is rare.
Alphamarque Shop 1, Highfield Park Russet Drive, St Albans Hertfordshire AL4 0AZ Telephone: 01727 837 836
Alphamarque Shop 4, Centurion House St Johns St, Colchester Essex CO2 7AH Telephone: 01206 575 066
Email: sales@alphamarque.com Both shops are open 6 days a week with level access and the St Albans branch has the added benefit of free parking in the immediate area. The company has a fleet of mobile showrooms which can take products to the customer for demonstration, without obligation, if a visit to the shop is not convenient. Alphamarque also has a website which provides product information at www.alphamarque.com
APEX Medical Partners with SLK Vertriebs GmbH and SLK Medical GmbH APEX Medical Corp has announced the acquisition of fifty percent shares of SLK Vertriebs GmbH and SLK Medical GmbH, a leading manufacturer and service provider in Pressure Area Care throughout Germany and Europe.
in Europe (Spain, UK, and France), USA, Greater China, and Pan Asia (India and Thailand). The partnership will extend APEX Medical’s footprint into Germany and expand APEX Medical’s growing presence in Europe.
SLK was established by a group of health care professionals that have a particular focus on the patients and their needs. SLK offers medical solutions which are both economically and therapeutically viable. Their product range comprises anti-decubitus bedding systems, Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC), bariatric care, decontamination and repair services. In many countries SLK is represented by distributors.
This collaboration will enhance the product portfolio and capacity for both parties in Pressure Area Care and Wound Management, and also provide opportunities for APEX Medical’s global service network and SLK’s business growth. SLK Vertriebs GmbH and SLK Medical GmbH will keep its current operation unchanged, and the companies will be jointly managed by both SLK and APEX Medical management teams.
APEX Medical has established its global service network
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membersnews New BHTA member releases ground-breaking Virtual Clinic app New BHTA member Imobisoft has joined the BHTA at a time when it has just launched a revolutionary new app to improve the lives of people with long term conditions requiring regular contact with their clinician. The Virtual Clinic app has been developed in collaboration with Birmingham Children’s Hospital to enable patients to securely communicate information about their condition directly to a clinician while simultaneously updating the Trust’s electronic patient record system. It reduces the need to attend a clinic unless it’s absolutely necessary, saving time and money and freeing up much needed capacity. If a patient’s condition changes between routine appointments, the app automatically alerts the clinician who can respond immediately. An intervention can be made earlier, potentially decreasing the risk of morbidity or the need for more complex interventions or hospital admission. By providing patients with immediate feedback it helps them manage their condition. Virtual Clinic is a free app. Users download it onto their phone and enter a unique code to create their profile. Symptoms are recorded and sent in real time. Via the web interface, clinicians can see all data for a particular patient over a period of time, send a message to the patient’s phone and run reports on patients, symptoms, etc. from the database. The app can be applied to the majority of long term conditions managed by regular Outpatient appointments. Currently, Virtual
Clinic is being used for patients at Birmingham Children’s Hospital with anorectic malformations and chronic constipation. The app was originally conceived by Mr Ingo Jester, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. “Virtual Clinic allows the clinician to tailor the treatment of patients more precisely based on their daily symptom recording and therefore adjust their follow-up in clinic according their clinical needs. By allowing the clinician to monitor a patient’s condition in real time, the app has huge potential to improve patient care.” Imobisoft is at the forefront of mobile app, web and software development. With a strategic focus on the healthcare sector, the company has several years’ experience developing apps from concept through to publication, working with leading public and private sector organisations to deliver bespoke and highly innovative mobile software solutions. For more information about Virtual Clinic and how it might be developed for other conditions, please contact Guy Smallman, Commercial Director at Imobisoft at guy.smallman@imobisoft. co.uk.
Stiltz Lifts open their own factory in China Stiltz Lifts has opened its own factory for the first time and more than quadrupled its manufacturing and warehouse space. The home lifts specialist has decided to move its operations to a new 4000m2 facility in China with a staff of more than 40 people. It will be the first time that Stiltz Lifts will operate separate production lines for each of its class of products - Stiltz Duo Lift and Stiltz Trio Wheelchair Lift – with a third production line to cater for excess demand of either type of lift. The new Stiltz Lifts factory is split into three levels with manufacturing on the ground floor, electrical and research and development on the second floor and a cafeteria and recreation area on the top floor. In 2015, the home lifts manufacturer organised a mezzanine and a demountable office for R&D which is now located at the new factory. The mezzanine has three lifts installed and is used for testing, installation training and certification whilst all staff receive training from UL – a worldwide safety consulting and certification company. The Stiltz Lift has also been tested and approved at the China facility by Liftinstituut – a leading certification organisation for lifts. Stiltz Lifts Director of Operations in China, James Gillespie says the opening of its own factory is ‘big step’ for the domestic lift supplier.
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Mr Gillespie said: “The new factory will allow us to meet the demands of our trade partners around the world, while the bigger floor area gives our research and development team the space it requires to test and launch new home lift products in the future.” The website for the company is www.stiltz.co.uk
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Shapemaster Global work with Dr Sara Payne MBE Shapemaster are a UK manufacturer of power assisted exercise equipment, suitable for the elderly, those living with long term neurological conditions and people with limited mobility. Having been established for over 25 years, their recent work has seen substantial growth within specialist centres such as the Brain & Spinal Injury Centre in Salford, Specialist Stroke Services and MS Therapy Centres. A recent study on those whose diagnostic backgrounds were MS, TBI and CVA was conducted by the physiotherapy team at Sheffield Hallam University. Their findings demonstrated that Shapemaster equipment improved both emotional and physical status as well “ The customisation to the as proving an accessible and machine has enabled me acceptable option for people with to exercise for the first moderate to severe neurological impairments. In addition, data also time in six years ” indicated an overall improvement in physical function as well as Dr Sara Payne MBE decreased stiffness, increased leg strength and improved balance and symmetry. As a UK manufacturer Shapemaster boast onsite capabilities for bespoke work and as such have engineered accessories and adaptions for those with complex conditions. Our recent projects have included work with Dr Sara Payne MBE, an award winning campaigner who suffered a massive stroke over six years ago. Managing Director Howard Blackburn explained, “Because of Sara’s extensive left side paralysis, foot drop and severely contracted hand we had to apply modifications to some of the key components of the seated climber machine. We’d already designed a positioning glove which enabled Sara to perform the upper limb movements safely and securely. The task was then to create an AFO type device which would allow for lower limb movement (to exercise both passively & actively), whilst still being accessible for Sara to get on and off the machine single handed”. The engineering team at Shapemaster developed a pivoting footplate, with posterior strut which could also be held in a fixed position. Sara commented, “I can’t thank Shapemaster enough. The customisation to the machine has enabled me to exercise for the first time in six years. And to date I can honestly say that I have regained a more confident post stroke mobility and a healthy weight loss.”
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Section Chairs 2016 The BHTA is the largest trade body in the healthcare field in Britain representing nearly 500 companies, small, medium and large, organised in one or more of 12 sections covering most sectors of the industry. This unique sectional structure provides a platform for all companies to have an effective voice within BHTA and, through the Association, to influence the development of healthcare policies in the UK. The sections and the Section Chairs are: Beds and Support Surfaces Leyton Stevens Invacare Ltd Tel: 01656 776200 Childrens’ Equipment Dispensing Appliance Contractors Philip Salt Salts Healthcare Ltd Tel: 0121 333 2000 FAME Robert Froomberg Safety First Aid Group Tel: 0208 4573777
Hearing Care Steve Witts The Outside Clinic 01793 648680 Independent Living Products & Services Rob Cooper Smitcare Tel: 07831 204510 Mobility Group Jeanette Warner Better Mobility Ltd Tel: 01442 768 782
Chairman Mike Lord tel 020 7702 2141
Orthotics Colin Hurley Colin Hurley Business Development Consultant Tel: 07921 917100
Stairlifts and Access Lee Farrington Dolphin Stairlifts Ltd (Midlands) 0121 525 8925
Pressure Care, Seating and Positioning Debbie Williams Invacare Ltd Tel: 01656 776200
Stoma and Continence Products Philip Salt Salts Healthcare Ltd Tel: 0121 333 2000
Prosthetics Mark Davies Steeper Tel: 0113 2704841
BHTA Scotland Group Lisa Barry Stairlifts (Scotland) Ltd and SSL Access 0141 551 0807
who’swho
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Tracy Lloyd Director General
Ray Hodgkinson MBE Director of Public Affairs
Sarah Lepak Director of Governance & Policy Development
Lord Rennard Director of Communications
Sally Edginton Research & Committee Support Officer
Nadim Anwar Operations Manager
Nigel Woods Training and Events Co-ordinator
Greg Askew Sales and Relationship Manager
Susan Burberry Accounts Administrator
Karim Uddin Member Services
Donna Eade Shopmobility Co-ordinator
Philip Woodward Accreditation and Professional Development Manager
020 7702 2141
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New members
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A warm welcome to all these new member companies:
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3 PRESSURE CARE 1. HERIDA HEALTHCARE LTD Leeds, Yorkshire t 0800 193 6030 e john.kay@heridahealthcare.co.uk w www.heridahealthcare.co.uk 2. FORMA GROUP Ipswich, Suffolk t 01473 463900 e sales@formalign.com w www.formalign.com MOBILITY GROUP
STAIRLIFTS & ACCESS
3. BUSH HEALTHCARE LTD Aberdare, Wales t 01685 884226 e spower@bushhealthcare.co.uk w www.bushhealthcare.co.uk
8. EXCEL ELEVATORS Ballymena, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland t 02825 651498 e pporter@excelelevators.co.uk w www.excelelevators.co.uk
4. ADAPTIVE SERVICES Royston, Hertfordshire t 01763 661334 e info@adaptiveservices.co.uk w www.adaptiveservices.co.uk
6. SHAPEMASTER GLOBAL Holmfirth, West Yorkshire t 01484 667474 e info@shapemaster.co.uk w www.shapemasterglobal.com
9. CONROY SOLUTIONS Birkby, Huddersfield t 01484 422040 e ian.conroy@conroysolutions.co.uk w www.conroysolutions.co.uk
ILPS SECTION
BEDS & SUPPORT SURFACES
STOMA & CONTINENCE
5. IMOBISOFT Coventry t 02476 158240 e guy.smallman@imobisoft.co.uk w www.imobisoft.co.uk
7. THORPE MILL Keighley, West Yorkshire t 01535 682630 e sales@thorpemill.co.uk w www.thorpemill.co.uk
10. AMI MEDICAL Nottingham t 0115 986 1888 e admin@amimedical.co.uk w www.suportx.co.uk
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25th & 26th September 2016 / NEC Birmingham
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! TRADE DAYS RETURNS TO THE NEC ON 25TH & 26TH SEPTEMBER To allow you to plan your business calendar for 2016, we have opened the registration for Trade Days nice and early! Register online today!
tradedays.co.uk/compthiis Win a brand new Kindle!
The first 100 people to register for Trade Days will be entered into a draw to win a brand new Kindle Paperwhite or Amazon vouchers of equivalent value!
Win a night’s accommodation for Trade Days!
The first 200 people to register will be entered into a draw to win a free night’s accommodation at Trade Days 2016.
To book your space at Trade Days 2016 contact Clare Johnson on +44 (0) 207 348 5766 or email c.johnson@closerstillmedia.com