Community Equipment Services

“One of the greatest outcomes of having access to the system over our previous solution is control of what data we want to capture and the many ways we can use it to help us manage the service. A good example of this was being able to move a time-consuming equipment panel process to an online version which captures all the information we required and makes authorisation easy and straightforward.

I would recommend TCES as a system to anyone involved in community equipment or wheelchair provision. I would also highly recommend CSS as an organisation and in particular, I would like to thank Stuart and Ashley who provided our local support. Their patience and ‘can do attitude’ during a challenging time has been exemplary.

‘TCES really does enable the transformation of community equipment services!’”

“Somerset Community Equipment and Wheelchair Service were recently awarded to Medequip Assistive Technology and their partner CSS. As part of the service, we have been involved with CSS on the implementation of TCES Community. Transferring from one supplier to another has presented many challenges, some of which were related to systems. CSS have been very patient and hard working in assisting us with managing those challenges during our implementation.

With over 1000 prescribers accessing the system, the training was coordinated and delivered professionally. With the experience of CSS having managed this type of transition before they were able to balance the needs of prescribers by supplying system training in a timely way to ensure they were able to place orders with immediate effect upon the start of the contract.

Some of the highlights and benefits we are already receiving from the system include the flexibility of it to manage our own authorisation process, having access to great communication options with our staff and the backup of good support and development opportunities to meet our needs.”

“Before the Covid-19 pandemic arrived we in St John identified the need to replace an outdated method of recording our assets. having just selected CSS to partner us on this journey and as the pandemic took hold we decided to press on with this transformation knowing that it would be a difficult ask for all concerned. As the core team worked on developing the solution and it’s implementation, St John volunteers had already given hundreds of thousands of hours of their time, supporting the NHS Ambulance Trusts, in hospitals and as part of vital community projects such as being asked to train staff volunteers from across all walks of life to deliver the COVID-19 vaccination programme. Knowing that we needed to continue to look forward and consider what the ‘new normal’ may look like we felt that having a solution such as Pro-Cloud was vital.”

“This has been a great project to lead on behalf of the charity and the support received from the whole team at CSS has been outstanding throughout the tender, and pre implementation phases. They have proven to be reactive to our requests for small changes in processes and capabilities and delivered on three specific development work streams. We have created over 415 locations and in the region of 500 vehicles and spent 6 months ‘laying hands’ on all our equipment. We now continue to go from strength to strength and this improves our safety and governance for our patients and volunteers.” 

NYFRS evaluated several asset management systems on the market prior to its decision of awarding BlueLight the contract based on its potential compatibility of use within the fire and rescue sector. CSS & NYFRS have worked closely & continue to work in developing BlueLight as an essential asset management tool with a smooth end user experience for the wider service. The transition away from a database paper based system to a ‘live’ asset managed platform has already had a massive impact through accurate catalogue data, stores management, control of external testing & operational lifespans of equipment in the field through to appliance inventories and scheduled testing on station. NYFRS supplies personnel & crews on station have all embraced the BlueLight system and are seeing the benefits of their own personal ownership of the system. The end user engagement in BlueLight was at the forefront of the NY project ensuring that the system was easy to use thereby maintaining its data accuracy.

Implementing this system has allowed our service to finally become ‘paper free’. We no longer require the use of paper prescriptions and all delivery staff are able to use their hand held devices effectively and efficiently. This has greatly reduced the amount of admin work required by the office staff and most communication between our service staff and clinicians/prescribers can be done online. As with every new implementation, we have and continue to experience the odd ‘hick-up’ and glitch. This was envisaged and understandably unavoidable in areas. The customer services team and IT support have been excellent for us and issues are looked at and sorted in a timely manner. They remain in constant communication with us and feedback at every opportunity. Again reducing the amount of stress for staff members and prescribers.

I would highly recommend this service to others and our service has certainly gained from procuring this system. The whole experience has been positive!

Staff feedback: We are confident that the investment we have made, supported by the good relationship we have developed with CSS (Europe), will soon begin to pay for itself as well as greatly improvising visibility and assurance that we are getting the best out of our operational assets and minimising our whole-life costs. So much so, that we are already making plans to utilise the BlueLight system to manage other assets across our organisation. Based on progress to date, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend another FRS to invite CSS (Europe) to tender for their AMS.

The CSS lead has clinical experience and this has been a great asset in forging a shared understanding of how the project is progressing. We have noted quick turnaround on amendments to the questionnaire, good levels of support on implementation and advice freely shared on lessons learned by other similar projects. What has been particularly impressive regards this project lead for these tools is a flexibility to acknowledge issues arising, but an openness to change and the request of improvement from their software development team.

The Derbyshire contract has used the clinical assessment tool to monitor and shape decision making regards pressure care mattresses. The CSS lead for this project has been instrumental in developing this tool through partnership working with the commissioning team and their equipment lead  practitioners. Amendments to the tool have been required, as sometimes there are unexpected consequences, and wording used in questionnaires changed to accomplish the desired results. Recommendations made by the tool have harmonised equipment prescription, and supported junior staff to understand the critical elements of safe prescription.

It was clear from the tendering process that Pro-Cloud AMS was a quality product that could meet our requirements and provide a value for money solution. Since awarding the contract, the team at CSS (Europe) have proven themselves to be both responsive and supportive in their approach to working closely with our project delivery team to develop their core Pro-Cloud system into the BlueLight solution that is tailored to meet our specific needs as a fire and ambulance service.

Although we are still in the rollout phase, we are pleased with how CSS (Europe) have struck the right balance between being receptive to feedback from our staff and providing their own constructive challenge back to us about how we can streamline and improve the existing processes we use to managing our operational equipment assets that are so critical to our role protecting the communities of County Durham and Darlington.