Partnering to drive clinical and service excellence

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is one of the biggest NHS Trusts in the country, comprising of: Basildon and Thurrock University Hospital, Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford and Southend University Hospital. The Trust provides a wide range of services across its three hospitals, including A&E, emergency medicine and surgery, elective surgery in most specialities, maternity and paediatric services.

The Trust was struggling to develop an encompassing strategic approach to facilitate a future-proofed imaging service across the region. This was due in part to the complexities of merging three unique organisations and cultures, resource constraints, capacity and not having access to the necessary experience or expertise and market innovation. Ageing equipment and low staff morale were also having an impact.

It recognised that there would be benefits to partnering with a healthcare industry specialist. In December 2019, Philips and a broad spectrum of key clinical, operational and executive stakeholders from the Trust collaborated in a Philips Co-Create workshop to identify key themes/challenges and potential solutions. Key aspirations were captured, including improving performance by collecting timely data, aligning services across stakeholders, adopting innovative financial approaches, optimising estates, and driving research and innovation to enhance healthcare outcomes.

In August 2020, the Trust went out to Tender for the provision of services from a radiology imaging equipment partner as part of the Trust’s radiology equipment replacement programme.

Following a Tender response, the Trust selected Philips as its preferred partner in January 2021. We agreed a three-year contract, including a strategic programme of work projects, to help address some of the challenges outlined above and ultimately ensure a future-proofed approach to imaging services across the region.

The work packages to date have focused on the design and build associated with the installation of new equipment across the Trust. In addition to design and build capabilities, the Trust has also utilised Philips’ procurement function to manage the supplier selection process (with the Trust making the selection), purchasing in the Trust’s name, logistics of provision, along with access to professional services.

As part of NHS England’s national replacement programme, Basildon Hospital’s outdated CT system was identified as a priority for replacement due to frequent faults and lack of support. Instead of a like-for-like swap, Philips helped the Trust adopt innovative technology and optimise the space using 3D scanning, resulting in a patient-centric design. The project was managed end-to-end with minimal disruption to services.

Installed in 2008, the X-ray machine at Southend Hospital was the oldest digital unit in the Trust and experienced frequent breakdowns, making it a top priority for replacement. As a strategic partner, we worked with the Trust to deliver a solution that met objectives within tight time and budget constraints. Our hospital design team collaborated with clinical staff to create a future-proof room, overseeing the decommissioning of the old X-ray and enabling works for the new installation.

We played a key role in repurposing a vacant courtyard at Basildon Hospital, designing and installing a new modular CT and MRI facility. By providing multiple design options and budget estimates, we helped guide the business case for this innovative solution, which created space for previously stored equipment and increased MRI capacity without disrupting services - ultimately enhancing the experience for both patients and staff.

Following the Courtyard Suite go-live at Basildon, Philips is redesigning the main MR/CT facility, including replacing one of the UK’s oldest MRI scanners. The team developed an approved design that enables installation of a new MRI and removal of an existing CT, with the vacated space repurposed for patient beds and changing rooms to enhance privacy and dignity.

At Southend, Philips provided consultancy and masterplanning for the first-floor Radiology department, ensuring a phased, patient- and staff-centric approach to equipment replacement. Philips also contributed to the concept design for a third CT scanner at Broomfield, collaborating with clinical staff to create a dual control room and maximise resources. Additionally, Philips facilitated a Co-Create workshop with Trust and ICS stakeholders, supporting the approval of business cases for the region’s Community Diagnostic Centre programme.

We are excited to further develop our partnership and use our creative, high impact solutions to support the Trust and its patients, as it works towards its vision of achieving clinical and service excellence.