Support for multiple equipment tenders improves outcomes for staff and patients at Eastern Health

HealthShare Victoria’s (HSV) Equipment sourcing team has partnered with Eastern Health to procure three digital fluoroscopy machines, and a suite of high-specification haemodialysis systems.

The team also coordinated the purchase of five ultrasound systems including two high-specification OB/GYN ultrasound machines for Eastern Health’s gynaecology clinics.

Deputy Director of Operations Speciality Medicine at Eastern Health Peta Dempster says the health service achieved significant financial savings by working with HSV on their new haemodialysis contract.

“I loved the collaborative approach from the team at HSV and the generous advice as we worked through the final stages of the assessment. There were a lot of technical specifications involved.

They have expertise in negotiating high-level contracts and that created a safe environment for us to ask questions and seek advice,” Peta says.

“I’ve learned an enormous amount about procurement from HSV and the Eastern Health procurement team through this process.”

Peta says the team at Eastern Health was able to leverage HSV’s expertise, and having the header agreement in place made the process simpler.

“The negotiation process around the contract was much faster and went more smoothly because that initial work had already been done. I’ve done a couple of tenders before, and this one was less stressful with HSV’s guidance and support.”

HSV’s Equipment sourcing team also helped to procure three digital fluoroscopy systems for Eastern Health sites at Maroondah, Box Hill and Angliss.

Associate Program Director at Medical Imaging Maroondah Hospital Joel Scott says the new machines, which replaced end-of-life equipment, have advanced the technology available to patients by around 20 years.

“The new equipment provides us with better quality images, which helps with diagnosis and treatment. The technology is more advanced and so there are lower levels of radiation, making it safer and more effective."

Joel says patients can also receive certain treatments and examinations without having to travel.

“We’re now able to carry out a wider range of examinations at Maroondah and Angliss, reducing the need for patients to travel to Box Hill.”

In addition to the cost savings achieved through partnering with HSV, Joel says it was easier for his team to make informed decisions about the equipment purchase.

“The team at HSV was able to coordinate everything for us including the documentation we needed. They also coordinated the site visits, which was helpful given we’re a multisite organisation spread across the eastern suburbs,” says Joel.

In the financial year ending 30 June 2024, HSV’s Equipment team sourced medical imaging and radiotherapy equipment worth $57 million on behalf of health services, an increase of 14 per cent since 2023. The team is on track to source more than $70 million of medical imaging and radiotherapy equipment in FY25.

Projects due to be completed in the year ahead include Linear Accelerators (LINACs) for a metro hospital, and several PET CT scanners, in addition to surgical robots and surgical power tools.

HSV Head of Equipment Sourcing Mark Lennen says HSV is the biggest purchaser of medical imaging equipment in Victoria.

“Health services can achieve the best price by working with us and the team has a lot of knowledge and experience. This provides peace of mind for health services because they have that guidance and support available,” he says.

Eastern Health provides services across the largest geographical area of any metropolitan health service in Victoria, covering 2,816 square kilometres.

For more information about support for medical equipment procurement, please contact a HSV Customer Relationship Manager or the HSV Helpdesk at helpdesk@healthsharevic.org.au or phone 03 9947 3900.

Above image: Deputy Associate Program Director Medical Imaging at Angliss Hospital Nigel Agyekumhene and Radiographer Lachlan Korvin with one of the new digital fluoroscopy machines at Eastern Health.