The Bulletin Issue 49 - August 2017 by The British Healthcare Trades Association

The Bulletin REPRESENTING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN HEALTHCARE

ISSUE 49 - AUGUST 2017

Heritage between each page READ MORE INSIDE… CENTENARY UPDATE… CYBER SECURITY… MEMBER NEWS

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020 7702 2141 DG DIARY

“I hope, as the years go on, we shall be able to say...this firm is a member of the Association; I know their work is good.” This quote was given a hundred years ago by Chairman Arthur Down in the very early days of what was SIMA and is now the BHTA. This aspiration still holds true today and our work of ensuring our Code of Practice is robust, respected and visible continues to be central to the Association’s success. The latest audit of the Code by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute again recognised the strength of our processes. From the very beginning of this Association through to the present day, we promote and represent the very best in assistive technology and healthcare. The Secretariat and Officers of the Association work hard to develop and maintain partnerships with stakeholders, encouraging all to recognise the crucial role the healthcare and assistive technology sector plays in health and wellbeing. A book researched and developed by David Russell on the Association’s history notes that in the past year we have held 31 Section meetings, 15 working group meetings, 5 workshops for social media, barcoding and decontamination and infection prevention. Added to that, seven networking dinners were arranged, the Board met five times and the Council twice. Over and above these internal events to support members, we have held dozens of external meetings with charities, professional bodies, trade associations and organisations

as the Department of Health, Procurement Scotland, the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority, and the NHS Business Services Authority. Our first conference in Scotland took place in May. The event showcased the vital role our members play in not only in health and social care but in the wider Scottish economy, not least by training and employing hundreds of employees within their businesses. Throughout the 100 years of the BHTA we have worked to represent members at every level of decision making to help businesses to thrive and continue to innovate for the benefit of individuals. The BHTA and our members are committed to Better Health, Better Care, Better Value. And while we’re very proud of our history, we’re even more excited at our sector’s future prospects.

Tracey Lloyd, Director General

Contents Westminster Watch.............................................................................................. 3 BHTA News......................................................................................................... 4 DLF launches new national supplier scheme.................................................... XXX Uplifting campaign to tackle unnecessary ambulance call-outs.......................... 11

Find us at www.twitter.com/ wwwbhta

What is ransomware?........................................................................................ 10 Event News..................................................................................................... XXX Member News ................................................................................................ XXX Section Chairs................................................................................................. XXX New Members................................................................................................. XXX

British Healthcare Trades Association Suite 4.6, The Loom, 14 Gowers Walk London E1 8PY Tel: 020 7702 2141 Email: bhta@bhta.com Website: www.bhta.com

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Westminster Watch by Lord Rennard

A personal view of what happened in the general election and what it means for Brexit The General Election result was certainly not what I (or anybody else) expected. The election had been called so that the Prime-Minister would have an enhanced majority in the House of Commons to support her plan for Brexit negotiations to be based on a clean break with the EU that is commonly called a ‘hard Brexit’. Every Government briefing prior to the election reflected its absolute confidence that the UK would leave the Single Market, the Customs Union and all aspects of the many arrangements made with the EU since 1973. In their place, new Trade Deals would soon to be negotiated with the EU and all other non-EU countries, with completely new regulatory frameworks put in place. But the dream of a ‘strong and stable’ majority ended with a Nightmare for Theresa May as the country, and then it would appear that the Conservative Party, lost confidence in her. She was seen to be ducking out of TV debates and interviews when she might have been expected to explain her decision to call the election and to defend the Manifesto that had been hastily put together by her top advisers. Key parts of that Manifesto are now being dropped because of their unpopularity and the obvious fact that there is no parliamentary majority for them. It is quite ironic that an election called with the intention of strengthening Theresa May’s hand over Brexit has now led to our approach to it being re-considered significantly. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Phillip Hammond, has been reported to be trying to build support for softening Brexit by seeking to preserve Britain’s membership of the Customs Union. This would mean that UK businesses would continue to have an agreement allowing them to exchange goods without tariffs, whilst there would be common tariffs imposed on goods from outside. The original plan for a new customs agreement

with the EU would require legislation that might be hard to get parliamentary approval for. Retaining membership of the Customs Union would also help to preserve aspects of existing regulatory frameworks more easily and reduce some of the costs to businesses of working with new bodies and re-labelling many products. Arguments are also being advanced for an even ‘softer Brexit’. Northern Ireland’s DUP want to ensure a ‘frictionless border’ with the Republic of Ireland. The powerful group of Scottish Conservatives want what they call an ‘open Brexit’. Models of Brexit that were ruled out a few months ago, might now be reconsidered. An arrangement like Norway’s would see the UK exiting the EU, but retaining full membership of the single market. This would, however, require agreement on the free movement of people (possibly modified), budgetary contributions and acceptance of jurisdiction over the rules of the single market by the European Court of Justice (or conceivably some new joint body). The significant shift in government thinking since the election was signalled in a joint letter from the Secretaries of State for Health and Business, Jeremy Hunt and Greg Clark, to the Financial Times. This said that they wanted to “work closely” with the European Medicines Agency, the EU regulatory authority currently based in London. They have offered to bridge the drug licensing gap that will open when the UK drops its membership of the EMA in the wake of Brexit. The talk is now less about bespoke regulation and more about ‘collaboration with the EU, in the interests of public health and safety’. This also offers some hope for a softening of approach in relation to medical devices.

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BHTAnews

History book marks 100-year milestone In 1917, Einstein applied the general theory of relativity to model the structure of the universe as a whole, Houdini performed his first ‘Buried Alive’ stunt in California and Al Capone became known as Scarface after he was slashed in the face three times by a New York hood by the name of Frank Galluccio. Also, that year, William ‘Buffalo Bill’ Cody died, Ella Fitzgerald was born, Czar Nicholas II of Russia abdicated and a small group of businessmen met to discuss the possibility of working together. A short time later, the Surgical Instrument Manufacturers Association (SIMA) was founded. It went on to become the British Surgical Trades Association (BSTA) and then the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA), representing hundreds of companies, large and small, along the way. Well over 1000 companies have been a member of the Association at some point during the past 100 years, which has seen SIMA, BSTA and now BHTA represent member companies at all levels of government, with most of the leading charities and a huge number of influential and advisory bodies. To mark the centenary, a book about the history of the Association has just been published. The 128 pages provide insights into interesting, fascinating and sometimes controversial issues that the Association has been involved with

during the years. Readers will find details on lengthy battles fought to protect patients from higher costs, reduced services and questionable sales and marketing techniques along with how member companies adapted and survived through two World Wars. Director General, Tracey Lloyd says: “The Association, in all its forms has influenced, supported and worked with hundreds of companies, organisations and government bodies, many thousand employees and millions of people in need of advice and protection. If you’ve ever wondered what a Trade Association does for its members, then the book gives you a very good idea and includes numerous examples of how the Association has, over the years, helped to organise members and produce high profile, highly effective campaigns.” You can read the book online at http://online.flipbuilder.com/ cwao/ccxm/

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BHTAnews

WE’RE THE DISABLED CHILDREN’S PARTNERSHIP AND THIS IS THE SIGN UP FOR UPDATES FROM OUR CAMPAIGN

BHTA joins the Disabled Children’s Partnership The BHTA has become an official supporter of the Disabled Children’s Partnership, a growing coalition of more than 45 organisations that have joined forces to fight for better health and social care for disabled children, young people and their families in England. Currently in England there is a significant contrast between the quality of life and opportunities available to disabled children in comparison to those without disabilities. Figures suggest that as much as 69% of families with disabled children receive no support in caring for their child, 43% of the general public do not know a disabled person and 97% of parents with disabled children say that people do not understand the daily challenges faced. The Disabled Children’s Partnership aims to change this with the launch of the Secret Life of Us campaign, revealing to the public the challenges disabled children, young people and their families tackle which are often taken for granted.

as a reference document and the Partnership are keen to refer also the original BHTA paper ‘The Economic Benefits of Better Provision of Disabled Children’s Equipment’. The statistics in the original report clearly show that more current exploration of the situation regarding the provision of equipment is urgently required. We are optimistic that so many organisations joining forces will result in a much broader awareness of the issues facing disabled children and their families”.

“ We are sure that this

partnership will provide opportunity for us all to make some positive changes in the way in which disabled children in the UK are supported. ”

Anna Waugh

The campaign will seek to help people relate to the lives of disabled children by revealing the part of their lives that the public do not see, creating greater understanding, affinity and empathy for both them and their families. Launched on the 28th June via a soft social media campaign which was supported by the BHTA and the children’s equipment members, the next phase of the initiative will use the recent BHTA Children’s Equipment paper ‘Failing Disabled Children across the UK’ which includes facts and figures highlighting the issues families are having. Jill Morony, Chair of the Children’s Equipment Section, commented: “We are really pleased that the Partnership are keen to work with the BHTA Children’s Equipment Section. The ‘Failing Disabled Children Across the UK’ report will be used

Anna Waugh, Vice Chair of the Children’s Equipment section, added: “Following a successful meeting in London with the chair Amanda Batten, we found that we had a number of shared interests which we are excited to pursue together. We are sure that this partnership will provide opportunity for us all to make some positive changes in the way in which disabled children in the UK are supported.”

Amanda Batten, Chair of the Disabled Children’s Partnership, said: “The Disabled Children’s Partnership has formed to raise awareness of the day-to-day lives of disabled children and their families – the similarities they share with everyone in the things they love and enjoy, but importantly, the unacceptable struggles they face on a daily basis, in living a life that we all take for granted. We all share a real concern that gaps in health and social care services in England today, mean that disabled children and their families are facing enormous difficulty in accessing even the most basic support. We are delighted to be working in partnership with the British Healthcare Trades Association to progress a shared ambition for disabled children to get the right support and equipment they need.” To find out more about the campaign, visit www. disabledchildrenspartnership.org.uk

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BHTAnews

The Awards Dinner BHTA will be celebrating turning a century in healthcare this year at the 2017 awards celebration taking place at the Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel in London. Entry Forms and Dinner booking forms are now available from the BHTA website, providing members with the opportunity to enter the awards that best fit their business. Importantly, companies can enter more than one category by downloading the individual entry forms. The awards raise companies’ profiles within the healthcare industry and are a great opportunity to achieve some valuable PR. This year’s host for the awards dinner will be the Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE, DL. Born on 26th July 1969 in Cardiff and christened ‘Carys Davina’, she was bestowed with the nickname of ‘tiny’ by her two-year-old sister, Sian. Very shortly afterwards, ‘tiny’ became Tanni. After trying a range of sports, Tanni realised at age 13 that Wheelchair Racing was her passion. In her last year as a junior athlete, she won the Junior National title over 100m and at 17 became part of the British Wheelchair Racing Squad. This year there are two sets of awards for companies; The British Healthcare Trades Awards and the 22nd Independent Living Design Awards. The awards evening will also see the presentation of the BHTA Lifetime Achievement Award, a special honour presented each year to someone who has made what the BHTA believes to be an outstanding and inspirational contribution to the industry.

The British Healthcare Trades Awards fall within the following five awards categories: • Best Product • Best Service • Most Effective Marketing Campaign • Best Contribution to the Community Also in this year’s event will be the introduction of two awards for Retailers of the Year Award and for Businesses that provide patient services as NHS Contractors. There will be more details posted to the BHTA website shortly. There will be other important awards recognising the BHTA Team of the Year and Individual of the Year, based on the customer satisfaction forms returned by members’ customers. All member companies are sent an initial batch of customer satisfaction forms, but if more are required, email Nadim Anwar at Nadim@bhta.com The event will take place at the Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel, London, SE1 7TJ To book a table, download the Dinner Booking Forms directly from the BHTA website to attend the British Healthcare Trades Awards 2017. For any further assistance about the event, email nigel.woods@ bhta.com

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BHTAnews FAME supports defibrillator campaign The BHTA’s First Aid Medical Equipment (FAME) section is supporting the national campaign for Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) occurs because the normal electrical rhythm that controls the heart is replaced by a chaotic disorganised electrical rhythm called ventricular fibrillation (VF). An AED delivers a high energy electric shock to a victim in SCA caused by VF to restore the heart’s normal rhythm. AEDs are compact, portable, easy to use and guide the operator through the process with prompts and commands. The AED analyses precisely the victim’s heart rhythm and will only deliver a shock if it is required. Modern AEDs are very reliable and will not allow a shock to be given unless it is needed. They are extremely unlikely to do any harm to a person who has collapsed in suspected SCA. They are safe to use and present minimal risk to the rescuer. These features make them suitable for use by members of the public with modest (or even no training), and for use in Public Access Defibrillation schemes. Public Access Defibrillation describes the use of AEDs by members of the public. AEDs have been provided in many public locations by the Department of Health, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and other charities and can now be found in many busy public places including airports, mainline railway stations, shopping centres, and gyms. They are meant to be used by members of the public if they witness a cardiac arrest.

should not be a barrier to someone using one. If you are prepared to use the AED do not be inhibited from doing so.

Defibrillator Heart Restarter

There are first aid courses that include training on the use of an AED. The first aid organisations (for example St John Ambulance, St Andrew’s Ambulance, The British Red Cross and The Royal Life Saving Society) provide training as do many independent private training companies. Fortunately, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in school-age children is rare. Resuscitation attempts at schools are more likely to be made on an adult (staff member or visitor) than a pupil. The presence of an AED at a school therefore provides potential benefit for everyone present at the site. An additional and important advantage of having an AED prominently located at a school is that students become familiar with them and can learn about first aid, resuscitation and the purpose of defibrillation. The Department of Education has issued guidance about the installation of AEDs in schools.

The Resuscitation Council (RC) (UK) has designed a sign which many public spaces equipped with a PAD will display. If you witness someone who has collapsed possibly because of cardiac arrest, dial 999 to call the emergency medical services immediately. Follow the instructions given by the ambulance control centre who will provide instructions about the steps to be taken. This may include the location of the nearest PAD. Staff working at the location should also know the location of an AED nearby.

If you think an AED should be installed in your workplace, read the Guide to AEDs written by the RC (UK) and the BHF as this will answer your questions in detail.

AEDs have been used by untrained people to save life. Clear, spoken instructions and visual illustrations guide users through the process. Lack of training (or recent refresher training)

To read the guide, visit www.resus.org.uk/publications/a-guideto-aeds

If you wish to proceed, contact your local ambulance service for further advice as described in the Guide. The BHF has funded the provision of AEDs for many years and continue to do so. Details about how to apply are available on their website.

BHTA and DLF join forces The Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) and BHTA have announced a new joint initiative that will see them collaborating on training courses for the healthcare industry. The combined team will be working together to develop and deliver industry-specific, high-quality training. With the DLF’s heritage of excellence in equipment-related training for healthcare professionals and BHTA’s pre-eminence as the industry’s trade and standards body, it is a natural partnership. DLF Training has long specialised in equipment-related courses with topics such as moving & handling people. Working with BHTA, DLF will now deliver the BHTA’s current training programme at the same time as developing new modules for the future. BHTA’s current courses include pressure care, stoma care and assistive technology, with the range set to expand as a result of consultation with member organisations.

The courses delivered through the programme will continue to be provided by trainers specialising in the subject who will use a range of products and techniques in order to provide learners with insights into services users’ needs and requirements. DLF looks forward to working with BHTA on training and is delighted to be continuing to work closely with the BHTA to benefit both trade members and the customers that both organisations serve. Courses will be published shortly and learners will be able to find out more and sign up to courses through the DLF’s website www.dlf.org.uk

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BHTAnews

Beds & Pressure section to release new paper ahead of Stop Pressure Ulcers Day The ‘Pressure Ulcers - Prevention and Cash Releasing Savings’ paper is to be released prior to November’s Stop Pressure Ulcers Campaign. The BHTA’s Beds and Pressure section has been working on finalising the new guide which reinforces best practices to help in the prevention of pressure ulcers. EPUAP (European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel) has invited all stakeholders to take part in this year’s Stop Pressure Ulcers campaign to help bring pressure ulcers to a wider audience. The aim of the campaign is to bring pressure ulcers to the public, the professionals and politicians. There are freely available publicity materials on EPUAP’s website to help those wishing to get involved locally and nationally. In recent years, EPUAP has seen ‘Stop Pressure Ulcer Days’ occurring in Spanish-speaking countries and in 2012, these organisations created a Declaration in Rio, speaking out against people developing pressure ulcers. There are many ways to get involved in the “Stop Pressure Ulcer Day”:

Host educational activities on prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers Organise awareness raising events to share information about pressure ulcers Reach out to the local community to inform them about pressure ulcers Make policy makers aware about pressure ulcers BHTA members will be actively promoting the event and raising awareness across the UK. For further information, visit www.epuap.org/stop-pressureulcers/#stoppressureulcers

Stairlift sections steps up for charity The Stairlift section is looking to raise money for a nominated charity by having BHTA members go the extra mile in the new Steptember Challenge. As the stairlift section’s focus is assisting consumers who have a challenge with getting up steps, with stairlifts being one of the best solutions to help a person overcome this issue, it seemed only natural to create Steptember. The challenge to BHTA members is to walk 10,000 steps every day for the month of September. By the end of the month participants will have walked at least 300,000 steps (approximately 150 miles). Try and find some iconic buildings with lots of steps where you can get a team photograph and don’t forget to Tweet your stories and pictures at #BHTAsteptember. Launching for the first time in 2017, the event will be annual,

with a different charity being chosen each year to support. This year’s charity will be SCOPE, an organisation that strives towards making the country a place where disabled people have the same opportunities as everyone else. The BHTA have opened a Just Giving page to make it easier to support SCOPE, found at: www.justgiving.com/ BHTAsteptember There are some Steptember posters and sponsorship forms available from the BHTA website to help you get started which can be found at www.bhta.com/ bhta-steptember-the-challengethe-charity/ If you would like Steptember logo’s for your own promotional activities with you staff contact sally.edgington@bhta.com British Healthcare Trades Association – Working Together with SCOPE @wwwbhta #BHTAsteptember @scope

From left: Stuart Makinnon, Ian Ferguson, Prof. June Andrews, Euan Kidd, David Watt

Summary of BHTA Scotland’s section meeting and conference BHTA Scotland marked the centenary with a well-attended section meeting and an inaugural half day conference in Edinburgh. Neil Findlay MSP, Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Health & Sport Committee, introduced delegates to the Committee’s role and workplan which included focus on the Preventative Agenda.

quality performance. Thanks to service integration, they are increasingly working across all sectors and closely with Scotland Excel.

The Committee launched a call for evidence into Technology and Innovation in the NHS. The call will seek views on the Scottish Government’s approach to eHealth and for examples of successes and failures concerning existing telecare and telehealth strategies to determine what opportunities future developments might present.

BHTA Scotland’s Margaret Smith chaired an interesting panel session on the Challenges facing Business in Scotland. She was joined by Tracey Lloyd, BHTA’s Director General; David Watt, the Scottish Executive Director of the Institute of Directors; Euan Kidd , Senior Procurement Specialist in social care and telehealth from Scotland Excel; Iain Ferguson from Skills Development Scotland and the FSB Scotland’s Stuart Mackinnon.

The Committee also explored barriers to innovation in the NHS, with the consultation ending on July 12th. Dr Mike Winter, Medical Director of the Procurement, Commissioning and Facilities (PCF) SBU within NHS National Services Scotland gave an overview of PCF’s role in offering expert technical and scientific guidance and support to NHS Boards. PCF is responsible for influencing expenditure of more than £2Bn for consumables and £200m of specialist services. Medical and surgical equipment and consumables cover 115 contracts within a £400m budget. Stating that he was happy to “get into a conversation” with BHTA as part of ongoing work to improve NHS Scotland procurement, Dr Winter pointed out that part of their Quality Improvement agenda was underpinned by the view that there shouldn’t be any “unnecessary variation” in procurement to reduce inconsistency in service. He went on to highlight the work of the Procurement Transformation Programme which began last April and the role engaging with industry should play in improving

Topics covered included skills, modern and graduate apprenticeships, the apprenticeship levy and Brexit, with all organisations keen to work with BHTA Scotland members. Professor June Andrews, internationally recognised leader in the movement to improve services for people with dementia and their carers, closed the event with a virtuoso presentation on living with dementia. Author of a number of books on the subject including The One Stop Guide to Dementia, June said she was always happy to engage with companies who are providing products and services for people dealing with dementia and to get involved in product development at an early stage. An evening reception in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament, featuring the Minister for Public Health Aileen Campbell MSP, had to be postponed due to the heightened security alert, which has been rescheduled for 12th December 2017. Contact Margaret Smith on 07740925767 for further info / speaker contact details.

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BHTAnews New website launches The BHTA has refreshed and updated the website for 2017, focusing on easier navigation and a fully responsive design that enables it to look great on tablets and mobile phones. Steve Perry, Marketing and Communications Manager at BHTA, said: “With ever-changing technology, it’s important that websites keep pace with the changes. From our analytics, we could see that more users were accessing the original website via mobile devices and were restricted to accessing our content. This has now changed and the new responsive design allows for complete access on any device.” There is still content being updated for the site, including the Air Transport Advice which is now a critical information resource to the Civil Aviation Authority for the transportation of mobility vehicles by all airlines. It is important that all mobility manufacturers keep sending through their updated information, new product launches and any specification changes that may influence the database. To coincide with the BHTA centenary, the Association is encouraging members to send in stories and images from their

own history and archive to be included in the celebration. All submitted stories are being featured in the NEWS section on the website, including members’ anniversaries this year, as well as product and team images. To submit content to be shared on the new site, email steve. perry@bhta.com The new website can be viewed at www.bhta.com

DLF launches new national supplier scheme Over 950 national suppliers keep the Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) up-to-date with details of their products, which the charity provides to those looking for equipment to help themselves or others live independently. Information is organised so that the public can easily compare products and find suitable suppliers. The charity supports this process by providing useful, impartial, and independent advice through a free telephone helpline and online services: •

Living Made Easy (www.livingmadeeasy.org.uk) – the flagship website

•

DLF-Data (www.dlf-data.org.uk) – for Healthcare Professionals

•

AskSARA (www.asksara.dlf.org.uk) – providing advice and suitable product recommendations

As its busiest website for the public, Living Made Easy was visited by over 1.2 million people in 2016 and as the need for aids to daily living grows, traffic to the site is set to increase significantly. Living Made Easy performs particularly well on search engines when people are looking for suitable independent living equipment. From bathing equipment to eating aids, from medication management to emerging new technologies for communications. During 2016 & 2017, DLF has been working with an external specialist marketing agency to further develop Living Made Easy and one of the first improvements to arise from this is a new scheme for national suppliers. The scheme aims to provide clearer information about suppliers and their services to Living Made Easy’s visitors, whilst crucially offering suppliers an opportunity to enhance their profile on Living Made Easy in areas where website visitors are likely to click-through towards suppliers’ websites.

At an annual cost of £360 (+vat), the new scheme covers the full range of products that suppliers have listed with the DLF. Income from the new scheme will be used by DLF to fund the maintenance of the information databases and to keep these valuable online services free to those searching for daily living aids. Testing the scheme has been shown to typically double the levels of traffic that suppliers see from Living Made Easy. Precision Creative & Media’s Sarah Bannister commented: “Precision Creative & Media have been working closely with the DLF over a number of months to understand the immense value they have in their websites, content and traffic. As a data-driven, full service marketing agency, developing such popular and valuable resources that make a difference to so many peoples’ lives is a challenge we have relished.” DLF says it recognises the value of BHTA membership in a number of important ways. For BHTA members, both the BHTA and TSI logos are shown within all product listings panels and heavy weighting is also given to membership as a component of the company rating which affects ranking on the “Where to buy” areas in Living Made Easy. The DLF team will also be present at BHTA Section meetings throughout this year to update members on the charity’s work and answer any questions. To update listings, discuss other marketing programmes or sign up for the new supplier scheme, contact the DLF on 0207 289 6111 or email marketing@dlf.org.uk

Doing business around the world just got easier Global Healthcare Trader (GHT) is designed for companies looking to find distributors around the world. A simple search facility enables companies looking to import new products the ability to find businesses looking to sell into their own country in just a couple of clicks. If your company is looking to build business around the world, then it could well be the easiest, quickest and simplest way to do it.

Take a look at GHT today... www.globalhealthcaretrader.com To discuss the opportunity, call 01536 710050 today

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UPDATE FROM ICB GROUP

What is ransomware? Earlier this year, we wrote in the Bulletin about the new extensions that had been added to the exclusive member’s insurance scheme – one of these is Cyber Insurance as standard. This has been very much in the news recently with both Wannacry and Petya attacks that have crippled companies both large and small worldwide. Ransomware is a piece of malicious software that encrypts all of the data on a company’s or private user’s network and that can only be decrypted after paying cyber criminals a ransom—between £500 and £1,000 on average, though, according to a report by IBM, half of the 600 surveyed companies affected spent more than £8,000 while 20 percent paid more than £32,000. Unable to access vital information, businesses are increasingly opting to pay the online extortionists rather than report the crime, according to the Financial Times. But, there is no guarantee that access to the files will be granted once the ransom has been paid. Therefore, the government is encouraging users to report ransomware attacks to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040. The number of businesses across the globe that reported being the target of ransomware scams rose by almost 170 per cent in 2015, according to a report from Intel Security. And, by some reports, the United Kingdom is getting hit the hardest—UK businesses are among some of the most targeted in Europe, according to network security firm, FireEye. Indeed, the United Kingdom received nearly 1 in 10 of all ransomware-infected emails globally in 2015, according to security firm Bitdefender. It is a common misconception that only large companies get affected. Businesses of all sizes get targeted, however, as large companies are more likely to have cyber security programmes in place – it is often smaller companies who experience a cyber breach. Ransomware is spread mostly via suspicious websites, spam emails and pop-ups. Gone are the days where spam emails could be identified with a single glance (i.e. text or subject line would include spammy keywords like win, free, cash; the use of CAPS LOCK; poor grammar, unknown senders).

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR? Spam emails can now be highly researched and could include bits of information about you or your company, or may even be masked to look like the email was coming from someone in your company. If any part of the email – subject line; (other) recipients; the attachment; message itself – seems suspicious then call or email (in a separate email) the sender to verify the validity of the email. Or if the sender is a company then visit their official website. Most businesses have an email address to which you can forward suspicious emails for verification. If an employee opens a link or downloads an attachment in a spam email, or clicks on a button in a pop-up containing ransomware, malware will be installed to the computer, where it will spread throughout the company’s server, infecting the whole network, and will deny access to all data. Although it is nearly impossible to plug all the potential gaps in your business’ cyber security, you can still make it difficult for cyber criminals to access your information. The most beneficial practice that your business can implement is to establish a robust cyber security programme. While your business’ cyber security programme will be unique to your business, be sure to include the following components to protect against ransomware: Install security software and ensure it is always up to date to protect against new threats Ensure that all the software on your system is current, including browsers, the operating system and any plugins. One of the most common ransomware exposures is a software vulnerability Train your employees to remain vigilant regarding suspicious emails, websites and pop-ups Back up your data – preferably on a device not connected to the network. Even a cloud based back-up can become infected if it’s synced to the network at all times. BHTA Members with policies placed by ICB have £25,000 worth of cyber cover as standard. If you would like to discuss this further or increase the limit of liability then please don’t hesitate to call us on 01784 608 100.

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Uplifting campaign to tackle unnecessary ambulance call-outs Mangar Health is working with CCGs and Health Boards across the UK to highlight the impact of inappropriate ambulance call-outs to care homes, currently costing the NHS £50 million annually. The #UpLiftingCare campaign was launched by Mangar Health after ambulance trusts reported an unprecedented demand on their services to lift uninjured residents living in care homes. Simon Claridge, CEO at Mangar Health, explained: “Every day, 1,000 residents living in care homes in the UK will fall. More than 45% are uninjured and do not require transportation onto hospital.” Simon continued: “These unnecessary call-outs cost the NHS Ambulance Service on average £135,000 a day. Add that to the high mortality rates associated with leaving a fallen resident on the floor for more than an hour, it’s not surprising we have gained considerable support for our campaign.” Stretched Ambulance Trusts are charged with reaching high priority calls within eight minutes and are often put in the unfortunate position of needing to classify uninjured fallen residents in care homes as low priority. This means residents could be left on the floor for up to 4 hours or more.

the piece of equipment has reduced their calls to 999 for fallers.” Daniel Kelly, Manager at Chestnut House Care Home in Manchester, commented: “This equipment is an absolute godsend. We’ve used it 20 times at least, preventing 999 on every occasion. Residents are happier, families are much happier and the staff find it easy and safe to use.” Another trial in South Wales has seen ambulance call outs to a Bridgend Care home reduce by 55% in just two months. Simon concludes: “By working in partnership with CCGs, Ambulance Trusts and care homes we can not only deliver a safer and more dignified standard of care, but also trigger costavoidance measures for the benefit of all.” For more information regarding the #UpLiftingCare campaign, the Mangar Elk or the Mangar Camel, contact Clare Birt by either emailing cbirt@mangarhealth.com, calling 01544 262002 or visiting mangarhealth.com

Mangar Health manufactures innovative inflatable manual handling equipment which is designed to support carers and healthcare professionals lift fallen people safely. “The Mangar ELK and Mangar Camel are currently used by every ambulances trust in the UK and are designed to gently lift a person from the floor, while reducing the risk of injury to both the carer and the resident who has fallen,” said Simon. The #UpliftingCare campaign is currently being rolled out through CCGs, Health Boards and care homes across the country. Sophie Wallington, representing North Manchester CCG at The Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust was one of the first to trial the Camel in care homes in the region. She said: “It has been extremely well received by all the homes and they all report that

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Drive DeVilbiss works with dealers to prevent falls Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare (DDH) is working with its retail partners to share a useful guide on preventing household falls as part of a nationwide Fall Prevention and Bathroom Safety marketing campaign. According to the NHS, 6 out of 10 falls happen in a person’s home or garden, with one of the most common places being in the bathroom. Slippery surfaces, poor lighting, loose mats, bending to wash and stepping into baths and showers are all factors for the higher number of falls in bathrooms, exacerbated by the necessity to visit the bathroom more frequently, particularly at night. The colourful guide features telling statistics relating to the effects and propensity of falls, informative tips on what measures can be taken to reduce the chance of falls, as well as recommendations of Drive DeVilbiss products that can help prevent falls. Claire Cudden, Head of Sales & Marketing for Bathroom Safety at DDH, commented: “The simple to understand

“ The simple to

understand tick list will promote customer home and bathroom safety recommendations, emphasising our message that falls are preventable and not inevitable”

Claire Cudden

tick list will promote customer home and bathroom safety recommendations, emphasising our message that falls are preventable and not inevitable. The advice, combined with other point of sale marketing material as well as DDH’s extensive range of add-on innovative bathroom safety products will allow our retailers to support their customers and hopefully avoid potential household hazards and ultimately falls”. Those later on in life are at a high risk of falls as natural deterioration in a person’s muscle strength and eyesight occurs naturally with the ageing process. Importantly, however, healthcare experts believe the majority of falls are preventable after some modest changes to a person’s lifestyle and home. To read the guide, visit Drive DeVilbiss’ website at www. drivedevilbiss.co.uk

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Special celebration for Irvine-based business Irvine-based Thistle Help, provider of specialist mobility and small aid products for the elderly and disabled, has celebrated ten-years in business. Thistle Help, of Irvine’s Portland Avenue industrial estate, held a celebratory dinner with staff, services, members of the Council’s Business Growth Team and North Ayrshire’s Provost to mark their special ten-year anniversary. The business has gone from strength-to-strength since their humble beginnings back in 2007. In just a decade, the company has moved from a small shop to a large showroom to accommodate their growing product ranges and services, increased their staff numbers, won several awards and even branched out to Glasgow to test the water. Laura Hays, Business Development Manager, claims that their success over the years is thanks to the support they’ve received from the very beginning. “The idea for Thistle Help initially came from a five-minute conversation between George (Managing Director) and I,” explained Laura “Before we knew it, we had a name, logo and premises!” Laura continued: “I can remember our very first sale from our small shop on Bank Street – a £5 drinking cup from an elderly woman passing by with her shopping trolley. Who would have thought we would be here, 10 years later, celebrating huge success. “This success however, is thanks to everyone that’s supported us along the way. The Council’s Business Growth Team have worked with us from day one, providing us with support in everything from staff training, financial assistance, strategy development and even helping us to get the right people to join us on what has been a crazy, but incredible journey. But there have been many others to help us along the way too, including West of Scotland Loan Fund, Protocol Skills and, of course, our local councillor Ian Clarkson, now Provost for North Ayrshire.” A small but mighty team of nine form Thistle Help, with many of the members of staff joining the team following their participation in employability programmes. Laura and George’s commitment to providing opportunities for people to not only get onto the career ladder, but continue to climb it, was clear for all to see at the anniversary event. “Thanks to everyone’s support, guidance and belief in Thistle Help, we have been able to grow our business and make it the success it is today. We’ve done not too bad for a wee company

in North Ayrshire,” added Laura. During the night’s celebration, Siobhan McKinnon spoke of her experience with Thistle Help since joining the team in 2008. Initially starting out as a skill seeker, Siobhan is now the proud Showroom Manager. But her story isn’t a one-off. Gemma Cree, who also started out as a skill seeker, is now the person in charge of the company’s accounts. Jennifer Gilmour and David Robertson both joined the team following a Councilled employability programme. Jennifer is now the contracts administrator and keeps their engineers in line with repairs and servicing whilst David is responsible for carrying out all contract servicing for their growing client list. Speaking about their growing team, Laura commented: “George and I are extremely lucky to have such a fantastic team around us. They have all been keen to develop themselves and it’s thanks to this drive that we have such a skilled and specialised service to offer our customers.” Speaking about Thistle Help, Provost Clarkson, said: “I’ve had the delight of watching Thistle Help evolve over the years and I can’t tell you how proud I was hearing about their success at their ten-year anniversary event. “Laura, George and the team have done an outstanding job in creating a much-loved business here in our community and it is a great honour to have played a very small part in their journey. “I wish them continued success – and look forward to their 20th anniversary!” Caitriona McAuley, Head of Economic Growth at North Ayrshire Council, said: “Thistle Help is a fantastic example of what can be achieved if you have a great support network around you – and even greater determination. “As a Council one of our main priorities is to grow our economy, and we love nothing more than supporting local businesses to flourish, just like Thistle Help has. “We look forward to continuing to work with them and seeing what the future holds.” To find out more, visit www.thistlehelp.co.uk

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Blatchford Linx scoops ‘best overall winner’ at Medical Design Excellence Awards Blatchford, the prosthetics manufacturer, has been named best overall winner of the 2017 Medical Design Excellence Awards for its Linx system, the first fully integrated, microprocessor-controlled lower limb system to help above-knee amputees live more active and independent lives. In a ceremony at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Centre in New York on 13th June, Blatchford’s Linx system was awarded the Gold Medal Award in Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Products category, and the Best in Show Award. The Medical Design Excellence Awards is the premier awards programme for the medtech industry. Since its inception in 1998, it has recognised significant achievements in medical product design and engineering that improve the quality of healthcare delivery and accessibility. Blatchford was selected from 45 exceptional finalists in nine medical technology product categories by a judging panel of leading clinicians, engineers, and designers. Awards were made based on five criteria: Design and Engineering Innovations, Functional (User-Related) Innovations, Benefits to Overall Healthcare, Benefits to Patients and Market Differentiation. The Blatchford Group has been designing and manufacturing cutting edge prosthetics since the 19th century. It’s Linx system combines four microprocessors and seven situational awareness sensors across the knee and ankle to continuously collect data on the user, activity and terrain. This data is used to continuously adjust the limb’s resistance and speed for ease of use, safety and stability, mimicking a human limb. This means the wearer can walk confidently, knowing that the limb will be at the right speed and support level at all times. The Linx ankle talks to the knee at a rate of 400 messages per second; in the course of a single day, the prosthetic limb will adjust over 2000 times to adapt to its environment. Adrian Stenson, CEO of Blatchford, said: “Winning the Medical Design Excellence Award is a wonderful achievement and huge recognition for the Endolite team in the US and the Blatchford team in the UK. We are honoured to have received this

recognition, both as the winner of the rehabilitation category, and the overall winner. “At Blatchford, we are constantly striving to provide innovative prosthetic technology to help improve the day-to-day lives of patients that are faced with limb loss. The Linx system is the only lower extremity prosthetic device that allows both the knee and foot to communicate with each other in both directions. “The ability to achieve this is what sets this device apart from others and allows the patient to have a more normalised gait across all types of terrain. It truly is a winning combination for an aboveknee amputee to have a foot and knee that communicate with one another.” For more information on the Linx system, visit www. blatchford.co.uk/endolite/ linx/

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The Care Show joins up with NHS England for 2017 Care Show, the UK’s only exhibition purely dedicated to the care sector, is delighted to be able to announce that it will be working with NHS England for this year’s show, taking place at NEC Birmingham 10th-11th October 2017. The partnership will focus on a new Integrated Care Zone at this year’s show that will deliver best practice examples of the NHS and social care providers working together for better outcomes for the public.

Brand Director, Chris Edwards said: “Integrated care is an essential and growing focus for the sector to provide the best possible service for those who need care and support. By working with NHS England, we will be providing the best possible platform for clinical commissioning groups, NHS professionals and social care providers to learn about how to better work together. It’s an exciting partnership for us and will help further grow this show and give our audience what they need to expand their services.”

Building on a growing event Care Show 2016 was a fantastic event with overall visitor growth of four percent from 2015. It also saw the launch of ‘Care Connects’ as the dedicated matchmaking service, which hosted over 200 meetings over two days, showing the growing demand of care provision and services in the UK. The success of the show in 2016 has led to demand for exhibition space exceeding original expectations and as a result the floorplan has been expanded in May to provide

more space for new exhibitors. This has led to a number of new prominent places to be created for service and product suppliers to the sector. To address key management challenges and get connected with 2,500+ like-minded care professionals from NHS, residential care, homecare, construction and more, register FREE for your pass at http://www.careshow.events/visit-b2

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Section Chairs 2017 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: Hearing Care Steve Witts The Outside Clinic Tel: 01793 648680

Beds and Support Surfaces David Beavis Invacare Ltd Tel: 01656 776200 Childrens’ Equipment Jill Morony Safespaces (Cornholme) Ltd Tel: 01706 816274 Dispensing Appliance Contractors Philip Salt Salts Healthcare Ltd Tel: 0121 333 2000 FAME Andy Pear Reliance Medical Tel: 07801 597596

Independent Living Products & Services Matthew Spooner NRS Healthcare Tel: 01530 232390 Mobility Group Jeanette Warner Better Mobility Ltd Tel: 01442 768782 Orthotics Colin Hurley Colin Hurley Business Development Consultant Tel: 07921 917100

Pressure Care, Seating and Positioning Debbie Williams Invacare Ltd Tel: 01656 776200 Prosthetics Mark Davies Steeper Tel: 0113 2704841 Stairlifts and Access Phil Rice Anglia Stairlifts Tel: 07753 441623

Chairman Alastair Maxwell tel 07974 980201

Decontamination and Infection Juliette Osborne GIPskins (PPE) Tel. 012020 45 830 BHTA Scotland Group Jonathan Scott Salts Healthcare Ltd Tel: 0121 333 2000

Stoma and Continence Products Philip Salt Salts Healthcare Ltd Tel: 0121 333 2000

who’swho

Tracey Lloyd Director General

Ray Hodgkinson MBE Director of Public Affairs

Sarah Lepak Director of Governance & Policy

Lord Rennard Director of Communications

Sally Edginton Research & Support Lead

Nadim Anwar Operations Manager

Nigel Woods Administration Officer

Kevin Hodges Section Support Lead

Greg Askew Sales & Relationship Manager

Susan Burberry Finance Officer

Karim Uddin Sales & Relationship Officer

Donna Eade Shopmobility Co-ordinator

Philip Woodward Accreditation & Professional Development Manager

Steve Perry Marketing & Communications Manager

Jane Weller Research & Support Lead

Margaret Smith BHTA Scotland

Nigel Bliss Finance Manager

New members A warm welcome to all these new member companies: INDEPENDENT LIVING PRODUCTS SECTION 1. SOUTHERN BATHROOM SOLUTIONS Kent t 07411 098100 e paul@southernbathrooms.co.uk w www.southernbathroomsolutions.biz

9 12

2. BLUE BADGE DESIGNS Bristol t 0117 941 3791 e ellen@bluebadgecompany.co.uk w www.bluebadgecompany.co.uk

8 4 5

3. CLOS-O-MAT Cheshire t 0800 374076 e info@clos-o-mat.com w www.clos-o-mat.com

6 14 13

MOBILITY GROUP 4. LEICESTER MOBILITY Wigston, Leicestershire t 0116 288 9768 e leicestermobility@hotmail.co.uk w www.leicestermobility.co.uk 5. ABLE ASSIST LTD Northampton t 01604 640900 e info@autohome.co.uk w www.autohome.co.uk 6. EFOLDI London t 07865 652723 e sumi.wang@efoldi.com w www.efoldi.co.uk 7. INDEPENDENT MOBILITY Hull t 01482 338338 e ian@assistivegroup.co.uk w www.independentmobility.co.uk 8. BROMAKIN Loughborough t 01509 217569 e sales@bromakin.co.uk w www.bromakin.co.uk

MULTI-SECTION PRESSURE CARE 9. CROWN 34 LTD Leeds t 0113 240 5815 e guy@directmanufacturing.co.uk 10. A J WAY AND CO High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire t 01494 471821 E: sales@ajway.co.uk W: www.ajway.co.uk 11. LMB LIMITED Beverley, Yorkshire t 01482 587311 e lmbltd@lmbltd.karoo.co.uk w www.lmb-stairlifts.co.uk BEDS & SUPPORT SURFACES 12. PLASTIBERT Leeds t 07767 825356 e Bernie.lyonette@ntlworld.com w www.plastibert.be

13. CLINICAL ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS LTD Surrey t 01306 631681 e cec.co@lineone.net w www.cec-ltd.co.uk FAME 14. ECO-CARE MEDICAL Fulham, London t 07766 165132 e headoffice@ecocaremedical.co.uk w www.ecocaremedical.co.uk STAIRLIFTS & ACCESS 15. EXPRESS STAIRLIFT RENTALS LTD Cornwall t 01726 814443 e enquiries@expressstairliftrentals.co.uk w www.expressstairliftrentals.co.uk

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