1. What is MES?
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 is a different and unique concept when compared to Multi-Service Vending (MSV) and Operating Leases.
An Operating Lease focuses purely on the financing of capital equipment. An Asteral MES looks after all elements of the
equipment process, from procurement and financing through to installation, plus the ongoing training of users and maintenance
of the equipment. It is more than just the arrangement of equipment finance.
Multi-Service Vending is a customised approach to the maintenance of medical equipment. This can be useful, but it lacks
the coordinated and long-term approach of an Asteral MES.
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2. Is MES a PFI or a PPP?
A MES can be as a stand-alone contract or as part of a PFI framework. It is not a PFI and does not need such an initiative
in place to be considered by Trusts.
PPP (Public Private Partnership) is the umbrella term for all arrangements where the Public and Private sectors work
together, or where the Public Sector employ the Private Sector to provide services. As such MES can be considered a
PPP arrangement.
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3. What type of equipment can/ should be included in a MES?
All types of medical equipment can be included, for example, radiology, theatres or radiotherapy.
Smaller equipment, such as infusion pumps may need to be managed in a different way from larger medical equipment and
fixed rooms. Asteral has experience of these different options and can advise Trusts.
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4. How long should a MES contract run for?
Asteral evaluates the exact capital investment plan and recommends the optimum contract length on a case-by-case basis.
The key to the length is a balance between long-term, which delivers economical benefits, and shorter term, so that
the Trust is not contracted too far into the future. An average length is 15-20 years.
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5. What does a MES cost? Doesn't MES cost more?
An Asteral MES contract has been shown to cost less than the cost of the NHS delivering the same equipment investment
programme, equipment uptime, training and management programme itself.
Where the NHS has put together its own Public Sector Comparator (PSC), this has proven that an Asteral MES represents
value for money.
The exact cost per annum of a MES depends on numerous factors such as the term of the contract, the type of equipment, agreed
lifecycles, and the level of risk transfer.
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6. What risk transfer is achieved through a MES?
Numerous risks are transferred away from the NHS to Asteral. As a specialist organisation developed to manage medical
equipment and the associated risks, Asteral is best placed to manage these risks.
Examples of risk transfer:
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7. What type of legal contract is used for a MES?
The basis for the legal contract varies from scheme to scheme. Asteral has several existing contracts in place that have
been negotiated and agreed with NHS Trusts. These form the basis for new contractual arrangements.
Typically, the contracts have a number of schedules detailing the exact services to be provided, the performance
monitoring arrangements and the payment scheme.
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8. How long does it take to procure a MES?
This depends on the urgency and level of resource a Trust can commit to working through all the relevant matters.
Typically the procurement will take 6 - 12 months.
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9. What are the key steps to procuring a MES?
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10. What are the benefits to clinicians?
A MES ensures that clinicians can continue focusing on the patient, leaving the entire procurement process and follow on
activities to a specialised MES partner.
Clinicians will benefit from a planned and sustainable investment in essential equipment and technology. The latest
upgrades and innovations will be available.
Clinicians will notice that they not only have the latest equipment, but that it is always available and fully functional.
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11. What are the benefits to the Trust as a whole?
The benefits of an Asteral MES approach have already been realised by many Trusts.
Equipment uptime and clinical availability has been improved and new, innovative technology, such as direct digital imaging, has been installed.
This quickly impacts on risk management, clinical productivity, improves care pathways, reduces waiting times
and delivers a better quality of care.
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12. What are the financial benefits?
An Asteral MES offers a stable, planned long-term strategy, moving capital equipment off the balance sheet and
transferring risk away from the NHS.
Procurement, maintenance, training and ongoing costs are cut from the outset and continue during the MES lifecycle
demonstrating the return on investment in a relatively short time. This in turn helps to achieve operational targets.
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