United Healthcare's Annual Conference took place at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, on 28 January 2003. This year's topic was "Effective Purchasing, Maintenance and Supply of Medical Equipment , including MANAGED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT SERVICES OPTIONS".

The key theme of the Conference was the examination of the advantages and disadvantages of a PFI/Managed Equipment Services approach to the provision of medical equipment. United Healthcare have been involved in PFI and Managed Equipment Services since 1997 and pioneered the concept with its inclusion in the Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust PFI DBFO Scheme. Since this time we have successfully led bidding consortium for Managed Equipment Services at Greenwich Healthcare NHS Trust, and then implemented on behalf of Toshiba Medical Systems Ltd at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich.

We have also advised the NHS at various PFI schemes; most recently at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust specifically in connection the equipment aspects of PFI.

The Conference was attended by 100+ delegates and received very positive feedback

The topic for next year's conference is now being considered, and any suggestions or ideas would be very welcome.