Ferno named as supplier of Bariatric equipment to the EECPH

Ferno to supply Procurement Hub with bariatric equipment

Ferno, the world leading manufacturer of emergency medical equipment, has been included as a supplier to the National Health Service and UK Ambulance Services since being included on the framework agreement for the East of England Collaborative Procurement Hub (EECPH) for the supply of bariatric furniture and equipment.

Ferno is one of 18 emergency medical equipment manufacturers and suppliers to be named on the framework agreement.

The EECPH represents all NHS and ambulance institutions nationally, and is based at the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust. This contract allows procurement through one channel with a view to providing Public Sector NHS Trusts with products that fulfill their requirements at the right price without them having to go out for an OJEU tender as individual organisations which can prove very costly.

Ferno managing director Jon Ellis said: 'As one of the East of England Collaborative Procurement Hub's suppliers of bariatric medical equipment Ferno can deliver a wide range of devices which will significantly improve the patient experience while providing medical professionals with a patient transport solution which will ensure they are safe when they do their job.

As part of the Framework Agreement, Ferno will supply a wide range of emergency ambulance and hospital medical equipment including bariatric wheel chairs, stretchers, trolleys and other equipment.

Ferno believes one of the reasons it is part of the EECPH Framework is because of its pioneering work in developing bariatric patient transport solutions to address the UK's growing population of overweight people.

Ferno has developed a range of specialist equipment including ambulance trolleys, wheel chairs, evacuation chairs and hospital trolleys specifically designed for bariatric patients. The term "bariatric" refers to the population of obese patients who require specialist medical intervention and equipment.

Mr Ellis said: 'The larger bariatric equipment we have designed and developed allows a smooth, dignified approach to dealing with larger patients and we have had really positive feedback from patients, medical professionals and NHS Trusts.

'Clinicians and medical staff are increasingly dealing with obese patients for whom existing equipment - whether they are trolleys or wheel chairs - are no longer adequate and in some cases put the carers at risk of injury.

The new agreement with the EECPH follows the recent announcement by Ferno that it has been appointed sole supplier of ambulance trolleys to the Scottish Ambulance Service - one of the biggest in the UK.

Ferno, which has been trading for over 40 years, is recognised as the global leader in the manufacture and distribution of emergency patient-handling equipment and exports to more than 153 countries worldwide.