Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
The National Health Executive Podcast is the perfect place to garner insights from across all aspects of healthcare, as we get into the crucial ‘whys’ behind the stories and how they can impact all of us to improve our work, our lives and the care and services we provide as an industry.
Tune in, discover more about our diverse and talented health sector and it may well spark the solution to help you see a problem or challenge in a new light.
Presenter: John, could you give our listeners a brief overview what Rental Plus is, what they do in healthcare, and what the primary motivation for their founding was?
John Steward: Rental plus is a, long term, contract rental offering, which is slightly different to a more traditional purchase route for catering equipment and refrigeration. So the key differences are really that, first of all, you just pay a monthly fee for the equipment. second of all, it's inclusive of all service and maintenance. So this is why kind of the NHS love this solution. Because, one, it reduces their capital outlay. Number two, it gives them a fixed cost. So they've got a budgets they need to meet. They know they're not all of a sudden going to have to pay out for a brand new piece of equipment because they're paying us monthly for it. and number, three, we guarantee the equipment is going to be working all the time. And that, means that they can keep feeding their patients, which is obviously absolutely key part of that catering operation, within the hospital. Just to draw on the other question about why we started it, I've worked for PKL, for 18 years, and PKL, and we've been recently acquired by the Low Group. They're actually both event companies. So with an event company, which seems quite an OD transition from serving events to the NHS, but, there is some thought behind this. And ultimately an event customer, if they've got an event that they've got that for one day, if we supply them a piece of equipment that doesn't work, it's not much good to them, as you can imagine. So very much that customer service ethos is absolutely embedded within the Low Group. Making sure those customers come back to us year after year after year for the events is how we grew the PK out and events business. So when we had those businesses and they're serving those events, keeping customers happy, it really was that next logical step was, well, we know lots about catering equipment, we know lots about refrigeration. Well, actually, people were coming onto us saying, look, we want this service, but we want it all the time. And that's where the Rental Plus model came in. So rather than giving you something for maybe a few days or a weekend or a week for an event, actually, we'll come up with a model where you have it all the time and you always get this service. You always get that guarantee that the.
Presenter: Equipment'S working in refrigeration and catering equipment. Everyone knows how important it is. It's kind of the foundations, the building blocks of any hospital, any health setting, and we can't really afford them to fail at any point. How does Rental Plus ensure that it doesn't fail and they always stay operational?
John Steward: Yeah, so I think there's a few ways that we kind of go about this. So I think the first thing is we will work with the trust, the hospital and all the key decision makers within the process to make sure the right equipment selected. So we're an independent supplier, we're not linked to any brand. So when you come and work with us, we're not going to try and force a brand or particular model to you. We want to help you choose the best one for you. And the reason why that is just intrinsically linked within our business. We don't want you to give you, being the NHS trust, a piece of equipment that after two, three months they realize they don't want anymore. That's bad for both of us. We want to make sure you're giving you the right piece of equipment. So it starts there. The second thing is we do something called Plan Preventative Maintenance. So with every contract, we'll do two plan preventative maintenance visits a year where we go around and check every single item, that they have. So we have a number of trusts that work with us and we will plan these in around the hospital. The times they're working. Sometimes it might be over a whole week with some really big kitchens where we're going in either very early in the morning or in between breakfast, and lunch, and just servicing those items and making sure that everything's working because they can't afford for equipment to go down. Going to visit something and then come saying, look, I'll come back to you in two weeks when the parts here it's no good. What we offer is the preventative maintenance. We also come out within 24 hours if there is a problem. But also as well, we actually own over 40,000 assets across the low group. So what that means is if something does break down, we can't fix it. The difference is we can actually replace it at, no additional cost. And I think that is a real key difference.
Presenter: And I know a lot of our listeners may be thinking, well, that's all very well and good, but I guess the proof is in the pudding. So could you share a case study or a success story where Rental Plus has really made a significant difference?
John Steward: Absolutely, yeah. I mean I think the one that works, I think is a really good story. From my perspective. It would be, basin Stoke hospital. So I've been with PKL for 18 years now and on my first week within the business part of my induction, I went on a site visit to an installation. We were doing an installation at Basin Stoke Hospital where they started their Rental Plus contract. I watched the combination of all the catering equipment be installed. Still to this day, Basin Stoke rent all their catering equipment from us. And within there, there is absolutely every single item in that catering estate is serviced and maintained by us. Even, down to the point where if they need any filters changed for their combination ovens so they don't scale up. It's all included within the price for them. They're not having to go and raise purchase orders and go through a lengthy procurement process, just to get a filter in place. It's all included all the worries and headaches of that. Asset ownership is actually taken on by us. So we've actually got a really nice case study that I could share with you, Louis, where someone can go and look at the video themselves. But yeah, that's a relationship that we've built over years and years, and that trust is with them as their equipment partner.
Presenter: Absolutely. And I know the term circular economy. Now, this is a term that gets bandied around a lot, just in general. And for our listeners who may not be familiar, I'm sure they are, but for them, listeners who aren't familiar with the term, could you briefly explain what it is and why it's significant to the NHS, to the healthcare sector in general?
John Steward: Yeah, a circular economy is a system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources. It's about, creating a closed loop system where products, materials and resources are reused, repaired and recycled. so in healthcare, it enhances sort of sustainability, reduces, your operational costs, and minimizes the most important thing part of this is it minimizes the environmental impact. Just to sort of give you that sort of in practice. How does rental plus support that? I mean, that is how Rental Plus is designed around the principles of this. So we focus on maximizing the lifespan and efficiency of equipment, reducing the waste and, minimizing the need for new resources. So, here at PKL, and in our Low headquarters as well, in Marchington, we have dedicated, cleaning and testing facilities to ensure that once a piece of equipment ends its rental term, it's professionally deep, cleaned, tested and commissioned. And, it is then either reused again, or we also will strip it down and keep the component parts so they're recycled and repurposed what that means, as well as the environmental benefits. It actually has a benefit to our, customers as well, because we had during COVID and still now we're still having some issues on parts availability. Well, we don't, because we actually have stockholding of all these parts because we're actually using these circular economy principles and practices.
Presenter: Yeah, and the thing is, the NHS, though, as well, this is another thing I want to touch on. Is it's ever changing, it's ever evolving. It's constantly on the move. How does rental plus deal with that? How do you stay flexible against the constantly evolving landscape of the healthcare community?
John Steward: It's all about engaging and engaging with the catering managers, facilities managers. We regularly engage in feedback sessions and networking events. We're members of the Hospital Caterers Association for well over a decade. And, we continue to show our support, learn and problem solve with the industry. I think one of the key things is this isn't a one size fits all approach. These hospitals are serving 1000 patients. Each of these sites are completely different. So it's all about that consultation process with each individual trust, each individual hospital, and coming up with a solution that suits their needs. And I think the key things are these needs do change. So I think that's one of the benefits of our rental program. I'll give you an example. there was a hospital we were working with that, actually had some problems with their extraction. And it meant they'd just ordered some gas combination ovens, from us, and they actually needed to change those to electric. Now, if they'd have bought those combination ovens a year previously, it would have meant costing them well over a quarter million pounds of upgrading their extraction canopy. With us, we could just swap them four electric ones and they never had to upgrade their canopy. That saved them a quarter of a million pounds, of capex that would not have been budgeted. So our offer, in its very nature, is built to be flexible. And our technologies, processes, services that they're constantly being upgraded, and refined to meet those needs and changing needs of our customers.
Presenter: Yes. For a quarter of a million pounds, that's a lot of money. Is saving money quite integral to how Rental Plus does things? Is it a prominent feature of the benefits, what they give you?
John Steward: Absolutely, yes. So for all contracts, we do something for, like a total cost of ownership piece. So, I think one of the key things that people sometimes don't have a full view of until they really go and look at it is what is the total cost of actually owning an asset? And we'll help our customers really dive into what the total costs are. So how much it costs to operate, how much are you spending on services, parts, equipment downtime? Are you hiring equipment in short term because you're having excessive equipment downtime of equipment? We will work through all those things, with every single hospital and actually just show what is going to work for you. and more often than not, the rental model does work out to make some significant savings on top of the things that you can't really cost, which is not having to worry about have the worry of looking after the equipment because you've got someone else, you've got a partner that's doing that for you all the time. I think one of the key things as well is there's a limited amount of capital to spend. And this is where the key thing is you there's capital. What is the benefits of us not spending that capital on equipment and renting it through our rent through Rental Plus, and actually deploying that capital elsewhere in the hospital? That can have a different impact on.
Presenter: Patient care for the healthcare executives that may be liking what they're hearing already and maybe want to know more. And I guess, imagine you're a lawyer in court, and this is your final address, I guess, to the jury. What key piece of advice would you give to a CEO of NHS, whatever?
John Steward: Firstly, Lou, I haven't been in court before, so, just said that, first of all, I think for healthcare executives considering Rental Plus, my key advice would be to view this as not just a service, but as a partnership. We've worked with the NHS for so long. We're not just kind of a solution provider, we're an extension of the trust that we work with. and we're all working together to one common goal, which is continuing to deliver exceptional patient care. with Rental Plus, you're not just ensuring operational efficiency and reliability, you're also aligning yourself with a partner committed to, innovation, adaptability and sustainability as well. We're here to help you ensure your institution continues to excel even during these rapidly changing times. I think what I would kind of say is just give us a call and we're here for that independent advice to support you.
Presenter: For those people who are interested in giving a call one, where would they do that? Where would they get in contact? What's the best place Twitter handles whatever it may be? And, how would that process go? How would it start? What's the exact step by step process for somebody who wants to engage with Rental Plus?
John Steward: So, firstly, we, have a website. so the Rental Plus offer is within our, website. It's called www foodserviceequipmentrentrentrentrentrentrentrentrentrental. Co, UK. Also, I'm on LinkedIn. You can connect with me at any time. There. it's John Stewart on LinkedIn. Lovely, picture of me on there as well, so you see what I look like. and also, there's another website as well called PKL website, which is a little simpler, which is www. PKL co UK. And on those websites you'll see the equipment we supply and a lot of the case studies of other NHS and public sector, bodies that we've helped. And just to talk you through that process of inquiring with us. So we'd have an initial call with you. We'd discuss, really try and understand your problems. First of all, I think, as I said earlier, this isn't a cookie cutter solution where we're just going, right, you have this, you must have this. We try and explore what problems that you are facing and then we go away and we'll work out some solutions for you, that meet your particular, hospitals or your site problems and come up with a solution. That works for you, whether that's particular SLAs you want us to work with, typical equipment, any site restrictions, any, particular meal delivery issues that you have, all those things we take into account to build up a bespoke package for each site. Yeah.
Presenter: And I'm afraid, John, it is getting to that time. It is last orders at the bar, as it were. But before we do go, I'm going to give you the chance as an open floor. Final thoughts? What's the last thing you want to say to our listeners?
John Steward: Last thing I'd like to say, just, look, give us a call. Tell us about your problems with, your KTM equipment and refrigeration. We have experts that have been doing this for 30, 40 years. We're here to help, so please give us a call. We love helping the NHS.