Many thanks for all the replies. Here is a brief summary of what I
received.

Many institutions supply BMS cover out of hours for blood gas analyser
problems.

Some laboratories provide backup equipment for out of hours cover

All laboratories provide a service for daily maintenance of analysers
during the normal working week. Some also provide this service at the
weekends.

All laboratories also provide a "on call" service during the normal
working day for trouble shooting and problems with the gas analysers.

Actually it seems that we all provide a very similar level of service.

The reason for asking the question is basically, can we do without the
out of hours on call cover for the blood gas analysers and I think the
answer is yes to this, so it has been a very worthwhile exercise for me
and I wish to express my thanks to all those that replied.

With regard to the blood gas analyzers business case. I was given a tip
off about the NHS purchasing and Supply Agency. They were able to give
me an outline business case. They did say however that they are happy to
work with people and produce a bespoke business case. The contact
details are:

http://nww.pasa.nhs.uk/poct/

Steve Vandyken
Pathology Buyer
Diagnostic Medical Equipment Team
NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency
60 Caversham Road
Reading
Berks
RG1 7EB

Tel 0118 980 8832
Fax 0118 980 8650

[log in to unmask]

Once again, many thanks

Craig Webster
Principal Clinical Biochemist
Nottingham City Hospital

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-poct [mailto:owner-poct]
Sent: Friday, July 18, 2003 6:54 PM
To: cwebste1
Subject: Re: Blood Gas Analysis


Hi Craig
I will email my original proposal for the provision of a POCT support
service for Hammersmith Hospitals Trust.  This also included blood gas
analysers.  The service has now been running successfully for 4 years.
Jo Kirkup has already outlined the POCT out of hours support service we
provide to all our hospitals, including those like Ealing, which have
contracted their Pathology to us.  Hammersmith Hospitals Trust now
provides the Pathology service , including POCT, to the following
Hospitals in West
London:
Hammersmith Hospital
Charing Cross Hospital
Queen Charlotte's Hospital
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Ravenscourt Park Hospital
Ealing Hospital
West Middlesex Universith Hospital.
I will also email my oriiginal proposals for the POCT out of hours
support service. Best wishes Bob Johnson POCT Specialist