Part of the team — HPA helps Herston Private to create the highest quality surgical suites

When anaesthetist Patrick See and his surgical colleagues created Herston Private’s premier operating suites, they turned to HPA for the highest quality equipment, service, and advice.

With a growing and aging population, and waiting lists lengthened by covid, Brisbane’s medical facilities were stretched. The team at Herston Private realised there was a need to be met in the community and founded a specialist facility with three private operating suites, situated in the shadow of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

The finest team was assembled — led by Ms Leith MacMillan (Director of Day Hospital Consulting Pty Ltd) to design and construct, license and accredit the state-of-the-art building and the same approach was taken when it came to the supply of surgical equipment. They selected Hospital Products Australia (HPA) — Australia’s leading provider of healthcare solutions to hospitals, day surgeries and clinics.

HPA provided advice and guidance on the most appropriate equipment to suit each of the three suites, depending on the primary speciality focus of each one — orthopaedic, plastics, dental. HPA Business Development Manager Gareth Simes drew on his 20 years’ experience as a theatre technician to recommend equipment that was bespoke for each suite, whilst also providing flexibility and longevity.

HPA supplied surgical lighting, medical supply pendants, operating tables, and patient trolleys — all the core equipment for a surgical operating theatre.

The equipment comes from more than one manufacturer, but as a distributor, HPA can provide a multi-supplier solution under one single contract.

But HPA does more than just supply the equipment — Patrick wanted a partner to manage it all too. HPA’s installation, training, asset management, servicing, and maintenance were therefore key factors in Patrick’s choice.

‘I feel as if HPA are part of my team. Nothing is too much trouble, and they provide very real and tangible support to the life-changing work that we do in the operating suites.’ Patrick See.

HPA managed the installation project, collaborating with and providing specs for the trades, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free installation.

Gareth ran training sessions for the clinical staff, to ensure they got the best from the equipment, and will run refreshers and updates periodically, and as new members join the team.

HPA tracks Herston’s surgical equipment assets in their Service Now database, providing online reports that give the facility an at-a-glance view of the status of all equipment.

HPA provides warranties and carries out regular servicing and preventative maintenance. If there are any issues, they are authorised to make all repairs locally.

HPA will continue to manage the equipment through its entire lifecycle, giving Patrick confidence that he can meet his target of not having to replace the equipment for 7–10 years.

In choosing to work with HPA, Patrick particularly values:

• Continuity — working with one partner across multiple capital equipment brands.
• Turnkey solution — a seamless process from selection, through installation to support.
• Expertise — guidance in selecting the products and managing the project.
• Hitting the budget — knowing he has best-in-class equipment, but not over-specification.
• Ease of purchasing — all equipment, servicing and maintenance bundled into a single contract, and the knowledge that they can add new vendors and still deal just with HPA.
• One relationship — partnering with one single company for all their equipment and service needs, and not having to worry about managing multiple contracts, or work out who to call for what.
   

Herston Private Hospital is providing much needed additional operating theatre capacity for the people of Brisbane. With HPA’s help, they know they have the equipment to support them in their surgical practice, and the peace of mind of knowing that they are collaborating with a partner who is very much part of their team.