Leading British supplier of mobile surgical services sets its sights on the Middle East
Having commercially thrived in the UK in recent years, Vanguard has set its sights on markets further afield and, flying high on the back of a highly successful inaugural trip to Medica in November 2009, the company recognized that the Middle East represented a promising market in which to focus the company’s international expansion.
“With nearly 2,000 people visiting our stand, Medica was a huge success for us,” said Gary King, co-founder and development director of Vanguard Healthcare. “As a direct result of our presence at the exhibition we received a large number of serious enquiries, in many cases from healthcare providers in the Middle East.
“We met an Abu Dhabi based agency called The Sciences and Development Company (SADCO) who were so impressed with our product that they recommended we displayed a mobile theatre at Arab Health. I am pleased to say that we have now agreed terms with SADCO who will act as our partners in the Middle East,” said King.
At Arab Health, Vanguard will exhibit a mobile operating theatre, which will have travelled to Dubai by sea and road in the weeks leading up to the event. During the exhibition, visitors to the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre will be able to take a tour of the £1m unit and meet Vanguard’s development director Gary King and other senior executives.
Dr. Hussein Kamal, General Manager of SADCO, said: “Like many Europeans nations, some Arab countries are experiencing pressure on their healthcare infrastructure due to rising exceptions and populations.
“Service delivery using mobiles is now being considered as a practical and cost effective solution to these modern healthcare challenges,” Dr. Kamal explained.
“Whether you are talking about an NHS hospital in London or a private healthcare institution in Dubai, many of the fundamental challenges remain,” remarked Vanguard’s Gary King. “Public and private providers in the UK have found our service invaluable in a number of situations, from maintaining capacity during refurbishment or after an emergency, right through to testing the practicalities of a business expansion plan – these are challenges that no doubt face healthcare providers in the Middle East, as well.”
He added: “Vanguard will primarily concentrate on selling units to Arabian customers, with full maintenance and staff training support. However, a service delivery model base on short to medium term rentals will also be made available in cooperation with our new partners SADCO, and supported by Vanguards expertise.”
In the UK, the past year has been one of great change for Vanguard. Following a management buy out from private hospital company Nuffield Health in April 2009, Vanguard’s units have been commissioned in a number of lucrative contracts with private healthcare companies and the National Health Service.
One such innovative contract that Vanguard has recently won is with DentalXpress who have established, using Vanguard’s units, the first mobile dentistry service for NHS patients in the UK, set for launch later this month.
The company has also set up joint ventures in Holland and Germany and plans to offers its services in many more European countries, as well as establishing agency agreements in South Africa and the Middle East.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Tom Short on 01242 211187 or email: tom@montpelliergroup.com
Notes to Editors
Vanguard Healthcare Solutions Ltd supports the NHS and other healthcare providers with a unique fleet of sophisticated clinical mobile healthcare facilities. Our service consists of the mobile facilities, clinical staff and state-of-the-art equipment, all provided on flexible terms from 1 day to 5 years.
Working in partnership with the NHS, Vanguard creates mobile solutions to many modern healthcare challenges including:
Maintaining capacity during refurbishment
Providing capacity to meet changing patient demand
Responding to emergency needs
Taking care closer to the patient’s home
Realizing reconfiguration strategies
Facilitating new service development
Vanguard Healthcare operates the UK national fleet of Mobile Theatres (including laminar-flow versions), Mobile Endoscopy suites, and Mobile Wards, Mobile Clinics and Mobile Day Surgery units.
It has worked in partnership with the NHS for more than 10 years and has completed more than 119,000 safe and successful procedures within its fleet of 37 mobile facilities.
