A Managed Equipment Service (MES) is the planned and coordinated approach to the purchase, installation, training, management and maintenance of medical equipment on a long-term basis. It can be as a stand-alone contract or as part of a PFI framework.
It is the outsourcing of functions away from hospital management and staff to a specialist commercial organisation. This provides a professional strategic approach and transfers risk away from the NHS. It is often a catalyst for wider service reform.
Medical equipment is essential to providing a high standard of care to patients. If it is managed and utilised efficiently the benefits to the hospital, staff and patients are numerous.