Medequip Timeline

Medequip has achieved impressive levels of equipment recycling in 2024, collecting £183 million worth of equipment, with 90% being cleaned, repaired, and reused. This process involves thorough cleaning, inspection, and maintenance of items like hospital beds, which can be reused by up to ten people over a ten-year period.

Medequip’s efficient recycling system saves money, ensures equipment availability, and supports community health services by facilitating hospital discharges and home care.

Medequip has transitioned to 100% green energy sources as of 1 October 2024, as part of its commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030. This includes using renewable electricity and green gas (biomethane), which is nearly carbon neutral. The company has also converted 50% of its fleet to electric vehicles.

Medequip continues to work on reducing greenhouse gas emissions across its supply chain.

Medequip Connect has won the Premier Supplier Technology Home Care award at the 2024 Social Care Top 30 Awards. This recognition is for their innovative partnership with Access Health Support and Care (HSC) and the London Borough of Sutton & Sutton Housing Partnership.

The project replaced outdated care technology models with modern, sensor-based technology to support independent living and proactive health care. The initiative includes 24/7 contact centres, TEC responder services, and an app for real-time data sharing with caregivers, significantly enhancing the care experience for residents.

Medequip has partnered with Disability Sport Yorkshire to support the Activ8 Inclusive Sports Festival project. This initiative, funded by Sport England, The National Lottery Community Fund, and the Hull & East Riding Charitable Trust, aims to encourage individuals with disabilities to engage in various sporting activities.

Medequip will provide volunteers and an electric vehicle for equipment transport, and will also sponsor the Denhale Inclusive Sports Club, which offers adaptive sports activities. This partnership highlights Medequip’s commitment to promoting inclusive sports and enhancing community engagement.

Medequip has been awarded the Cornwall Community Equipment Loan Service contract by Cornwall Council and NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board, starting October 1, 2024. This service aims to enhance the lives of Cornwall’s community by providing necessary equipment to children and adults assessed by Health or Social Care Prescribers.

Medequip are responsible for1 October 2024 the supply, delivery, installation, repair, maintenance, collection, and recycling of the equipment, ensuring high standards and environmental sustainability. The initiative aligns with Cornwall Council’s mission for a carbon-neutral Cornwall and aims to improve service efficiency and equipment availability.

Medequip has secured a sponsorship deal with the England Community Lions PDRL (Physical Disability Rugby League) team.

This partnership aligns with Medequip’s commitment to community engagement and supporting disability sports. The England Lions PDRL squad comprises players from foundations linked to five Super League clubs.

Medequip has been awarded the Warwickshire Community Equipment Loan Service contract by Warwickshire County Council and the NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board, starting September 1, 2024. This five-year contract, with an option to extend for another five years, aims to support independent living by providing vital equipment on loan to residents.

1 September 2024The service will focus on continuous development, sustainability, and value for money, working closely with local community organisations and prescribers to enhance health and wellbeing.

Medequip Connect has opened a new Technology Enabled Care (TEC) shop and hub in Sutton, in partnership with Sutton Council. This hub provides 24/7 alarm monitoring, mobile responder services, and maintenance for the Council’s independent living scheme. The initiative aims to support the health, independence, and wellbeing of local residents by using non-intrusive technology to monitor wellbeing and provide timely support.

The hub also offers the latest equipment and digital solutions to help people remain independent in their homes. This project is part of Sutton Council’s broader plan to transform care for older people and those with health and wellbeing needs.

Medequip has achieved over 99% stock availability, ensuring timely delivery of community equipment to support independent living and hospital discharges. Despite global supply chain disruptions, Medequip maintained a 99.3% stock availability in the first half of the year, facilitating nearly 650,000 deliveries and collections.

The company’s success is attributed to a dedicated procurement team, robust supplier agreements, and proactive customer communication

Medequip partners with the Ipswich Town Foundation as a Gold Friend, supporting the Foundation’s diverse community initiatives in Suffolk. This partnership aligns with Medequip’s commitment to local engagement and co-production. The Foundation, which manages 29 schemes, focuses on activities ranging from dementia cafés to youth diversion programs.

Medequip’s involvement includes donating wheelchairs and funds to enhance the Foundation’s work, benefiting over 9,000 people weekly. This collaboration highlights Medequip’s dedication to community support and active staff volunteering.

Medequip has been re-awarded the Wirral Independence Service contract, starting from 1 July 2024.

This service includes community equipment, care technology with 24/7 monitoring and emergency response, and a falls prevention program. Commissioned by Wirral Council and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, the service will integrate advanced Technology Enabled Care (TEC) to support health, independence, and wellbeing.

Medequip Assistive Technology has been awarded the Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes Integrated Community Equipment Service (BLMK CES) contract, starting April 1, 2024. This contract, commissioned by a consortium of local councils and the NHS Integrated Care Board, aims to enhance health and wellbeing by providing community equipment to support independent living, prevent hospital admissions, and alleviate pressure on care services.

Medequip are responsible for the sourcing, delivering, maintaining, collecting, cleaning, and recycling equipment, ensuring quality and efficiency. The service emphasises collaboration with local authorities and health organis1 April 2024ations to deliver high-quality, person-centred care.

Medequip Assistive Technology has been awarded a new contract by Shropshire Council to provide a Community Equipment Loan Service starting 1 April 2024. This service will offer a range of equipment on loan to support independent living for people with health and social care needs.

The contract aims to deliver an integrated service across the Shropshire, Telford, and Wrekin Integrated Care Board area, focusing on reuse and recycling initiatives, reducing waste, and using technology to improve customer service and data quality. The partnership involves collaboration with Telford and1 April 2024 Wrekin Council and the NHS ICB to ensure a high-quality, person-centred service.

Medequip aims to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2030, focusing on reducing energy consumption, transitioning to electric vehicles, and using renewable energy sources.

Medequip has also introduced a hybrid working model and environmental e-learning for staff, with future plans including solar panel installations, electric pressure washers, and carbon capture and offsetting initiatives

Medequip is the new provider of the Integrated Community Equipment Loan Service (ICELS) for Essex County Council and its partners, which started on 1 July 2023.

This marks an important milestone for Medequip and our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality community equipment services to those in need, giving particular focus to customer experience, innovation and social value.

Enhancing Medequip’s scope and range of services across its community equipment contracts nationwide, with the in-house ability to provide total solutions.

Medequip is responsible for the Community Equipment Service for Norfolk & Waveney, taking care of all aspects of the service, including sourcing, storing, delivering, installing, maintaining, collecting, and reusing various community equipment.

Our team is dedicated to providing safe and reliable equipment to those in need. We also conduct minor housing adaptations to ensure that people’s homes are safe and accessible.

Achieving a more inclusive recruitment policy is an integral part of Medequip’s HR strategy. The business has been working closely with BASE (British Association for Supported Employment) for some years to develop the policy. This month, Medequip’s Birmingham depot was pleased to welcome their third PURE trainee, with two previous trainees now in permanent employment at the depot.

The PURE project (Placing vulnerable Urban Residents into Employment) is the result of an innovative partnership between Birmingham City Council and a group of eight providers including Midland Mencap, MIND, Birmingham & Solihull Women’s AID, BID Services, Trident Reach, Fry Accord, Rathbone and Swanswell. Part funded by the European Social Fund, PURE brings together a range of coordinated interventions designed to assist the needs of the people with barriers into the employment market.

Covering the area of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, this new service was collaboratively commissioned by the BNSSG ICES Project Group, bringing together representatives from local authorities, NHS Trusts and Community Health providers to manage ICES under a single contract.

The Integrated Community Equipment and Wheelchair Service started on 1 August 2022, bringing together Medequip’s expertise in the Community Equipment provision and AJM Healthcare who are a leading provider of NHS wheelchair services throughout the UK.

The service compliments our vision is that people should feel safe in their own homes and local communities, so they can live independent lives, reducing the need for health and social care support.

Taking a major step forward in the electrification of its fleet delivering community equipment services around the country, Medequip has acquired a further 25 Mercedes all-electric eSprinter vans. The move makes a major contribution to the company’s clean air initiatives.

Operational capabilities were a key issue in Medequip’s decision to replace petrol and diesel powered vehicles with electric alternatives. These vehicles are capable of recharging within 60 minutes; when coupled with efficient scheduling across their delivery areas, they can complete an entire day of deliveries direct to homes on a single charge.

Medequip is working towards being carbon neutral by 2030.

Launched on 1 April 2022, covering the London Boroughs Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge, the new BHR contract offers residents and commissioning partners a streamlined and cost-effective service.

Medequip provides an Integrated Community Equipment Loan Service (ICELS) for adults, children and young people in community, care and education settings across the whole of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR).

The service, which commenced in April 2022, will align closely with the future development of health and social care services across the region. Loan equipment supplied by Medequip will facilitate independent living in the community, palliative care, rehabilitation and end of life care. The service will provide vital support for carers, working with clinicians and other professionals to enable early discharge from hospitals alongside reductions in admissions and readmissions.

With a shared focus on ensuring healthcare remains affordable and accessible with an efficient supply of products and services, both Medux and Medequip have strong reputations amongst end users, prescribers and customers.

By this point, Medequip’s turnover had grown to £206.8m.

Medequip team assumes responsibility for Integrated Community Equipment Loan Services in Sheffield (ICELSS).

The ICELSS and Rotherham Equipment and Wheelchair Service will be run from Medequip’s established depot on Chesterton Road in Rotherham, benefiting from both operational efficiencies and economies of scale.

Our remit is to supply and maintain the equipment necessary to help people live independently in their own homes for longer.

Medway Council has appointed Medequip to manage the Medway Integrated Community Equipment Service provision across the area covered by the council including Rochester, Gillingham, Chatham and the Hoo Peninsula to supply a range of equipment from simple aids for daily living through to more complex pieces of equipment enabling people to receive appropriate care and remain safely in their home environment.

Medequip has acquired County Careline Services, in a move which signals the community equipment specialist’s commitment to expanding operations in the Technology Enabled Care sector across the UK.

A nationally based organisation providing services to over 10,000 people nationwide, County Careline Services provides telecare assistance and support to older, disabled or vulnerable people, helping them to remain safe and independent in their own homes.

Medequip has been the lead provider of the Rotherham Equipment & Wheelchair Service (REWS) since 1 February 2019. Medequip, in partnership with Blatchford and Ross Care provide this service for Rotherham Council and NHS South Yorkshire.

The Integrated Equipment and Wheelchair Service in Rotherham will provide service users with the equipment that they need to stay independent and to live at home.

As one of the largest equipment providers in the UK Medequip want to lead the way in best practice and ensure the highest quality of service to our customers and people that use our services.

As part of our service strategy we worked closely with CECOPS to ensure our operating processes were industry leading and putting us ahead of the game in our industry sector.

Medequip has branched out and is now working in Newport, Wales! Our first community equipment services contract outside England went live on the 1 April 2018. The Newport depot has a great staff team and as a ‘sheltered’ service provider, around 30% of the employees have learning or physical disabilities. This is a huge change for Medequip which we have embraced wholeheartedly by partnering with Cefndy Healthcare, who are dedicated to the task of creating meaningful employment for disabled members of the community, through achieving financial viability for its business and associated social enterprise initiatives.

Medequip is united with Alzheimer’s Society to support people living with dementia. Alzheimer’s Society is our nominated charity, and we have formed a partnership in order to raise awareness and funds.

Medequip has provided the Community Equipment Service for North Yorkshire since December 2016.

The project to commission a new Integrated Community Equipment service started in November 2015 when the NHS and North Yorkshire County Council joined forces to call for the opinions of local health and social care equipment users, members of the public and clinicians. The information collected from conversations, surveys and drop-in sessions was used to form the basis for developing the new service.

Medequip has provided the Community Equipment Loan Service for Birmingham since April 2013, marking 10 years of our partnership with Birmingham City Council and the NHS covering the UK’s 2nd largest city.

The contract represents a significant increase in Medequip’s operations in the Midlands and fits in perfectly with the company’s plan for sustainable expansion.

Manage At Home, Your Online Medequip Retail Store officially joined the Medequip family in April 2012.

Manage At Home offers a wide range of products that can make your daily life easier and safer, whether you need assistance with mobility, bathing, toileting, dressing or eating and drinking, finding the right product for you has never been easier. You can browse by areas of the home, and even choose products from specific manufacturer brands and order securely from our website, with free delivery on orders over £50 and VAT relief on many products, if you are eligible.

Medequip has supported Derby City residents for over a decade and is proud of its long-term partnership with Derby City Council and NHS Derby and Derbyshire.

David Griffiths joined Medequip as Operations Director in 2008. Turnover at this time was £38m.

In 2008 Siddall and Hilton Group bought out the last of the four founding directors and Medequip became a family owned company.

By 2011, turnover had grown to £59.3m. David was appointed Managing Director and he continues in this position into 2024.

Since November 2008, Medequip has been providing Lewisham residents with quality equipment and services. This contract is one of the longest and most established ones that Medequip has in London.

Since April 2006, Medequip has been a reliable partner for Hounslow residents, providing them with quality equipment and services. This contract is one of the longest and most established ones that Medequip has in London.

Medequip is a trusted partner of Derbyshire residents, providing them with quality equipment and services since 2004. This contract is one of the longest and most established in the Midlands for Medequip.

Medequip has supported North Somerset residents since 2003. Now part of the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Integrated Community Equipment Service since October 2022.

Before 2001, Medequip was owned by Sunrise Medical.

Julian Cobbledick of Sunrise Medical proposed the deal to Peter Siddall and Julian became the first MD. They knew each other through regular contact at the BHTA.

Siddall and Hilton Group funded the management buyout on 28 September 2001. 50% was owned by the four founding directors and 50% by Siddall and Hilton Group.

In 2001 turnover was £1.7m and in 2002 turnover was £7.9m, showing substantial growth and potential of the newly formed company, with the Somerset Council and NHS Somerset contract coming onboard.

Medequip has been providing essential services to the people of Wiltshire for over 27 years. Since 1994, we have been delivering, installing, and maintaining community equipment to help improve the quality of life of people who use our services. We are proud of our long-standing partnership with Wiltshire Council and the NHS and we are committed to keeping people independent.

One of the longest serving providers of contracted out Community Equipment Services, having been awarded the contract for the London Borough of Hillingdon in early 1993, we grown in both size and expertise to now offer fully integrated services which reflect the complex needs of the sector, designed and coproduced in conjunction with commissioners, professional prescribers, community support organisations, and the families, carers and most importantly, those people who use our services.