Contents
Medical equipment management in NSW public hospitals
Contents
Overview
In an audit of medical equipment in NSW hospitals, the NSW Auditor-General, Margaret Crawford found that the management of PET-CT scanners could be enhanced by better performance reporting and replacement planning, and that biomedical equipment needed more timely testing and maintenance.
The NSW Auditor-General examined the management of:
1. Executive Summary
Conclusion
2. Introduction
1 The 15 Local Health Districts serve specific geographic areas, while the two Specialty Health Networks -Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network and Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health - provide care for specific groups of patients. In this report, we use the term ‘Local Health Districts’ to refer to both types of local bodies that are responsible for service delivery.
3. Recommendations
4. Key Findings
4.1 Management of PET-CT scanners
4.1.1 Scanners were operated and maintained effectively
Performance Indicator | Lismore | Liverpool | Nepean | RPAH | Westmead | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Percentage reported within 24 hours | 81 | 98 | 73 | 100 | 89 | 90 |
Average time to report for those that are not reported within 24 hours (days) | 2 | 4 | 3 | N/A | 3 | 3 |
Source: Audit Office analysis of data provided by hospitals.
4.1.2 Funding of PET-CT scans is complex
4.1.3 Services are planned locally, with minimal state-level coordination
4.1.4 Procurement processes were in place
4.1.5 Equipment replacement planning was inconsistent and uncertain
4.2 Management of biomedical equipment
4.2.2 Risk management and monitoring was inadequate
4.2.3 Oversight of external contractors’ work was often poor
4.2.4 Record keeping processes and systems were inadequate
4.2.5 Acquisition, disposal and replacement processes were sound
Appendices
Parliamentary reference - Report number #286 - released 25 May 2017