New van boosts Carmarthenshire service

Carmarthenshire's Integrated Community Equipment Service has taken delivery of a new van to help collect and distribute living aids to its service users.
The service, based in Dafen, Llanelli, supplies equipment including crutches, walking frames and toileting aids to over 5,000 people, and is operated jointly between health and social care services.
The new van will help the smooth operation of the service, as it will allow for more efficient collection and delivery of items.
It is hoped the van will also become a mobile ‘face’ of the service, promoting what it does, and how it can benefit people living in the community.
Martin Figg, Operations Manager of the service, said: “Our new van is able to carry more equipment per delivery and collection run, and is therefore helping us to make vital efficiency savings.
“It has been especially designed for the Equipment Service and features a fold down access ramp to enable staff to load larger items such as beds and specialist hoists, as well as an easily cleanable interior to ensure the van complies with all appropriate guidelines.
“This has been a significant investment for the service, which will continue to provide savings and efficiencies for many years to come.”
The Integrated Community Equipment Service (CICES) was launched in October 2009 as a joint venture by Carmarthenshire County Council and Hywel Dda Health Board.
Staff can now access one central store of equipment using a central database, and it also helps to monitor the return of items so that they can be cleaned, checked and re-issued.
Since its launch, over 25,000 items of community equipment have been allocated, and over 8,600 items have been returned as they are no longer required by the service user.
The service has received positive feedback from service users, and has made significant improvements in terms of money and time being saved.
Cllr Pat Jones, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board Member for Health and Social Care, said: “This service is a real success, and is not only making a difference to the people it serves, but also to the health and social care staff who need to access equipment.
“But in order to ensure the service continues to operate efficiently, members of the public are asked to let us know when they no longer require the equipment so that we can collect it and offer it for use to someone else.”
For further information, contact the Equipment Service on 01554 744359 or by email at cices@carmarthenshire.gov.uk