Whether it intends to issue any guidelines on the management of medical equipment in NHS Trusts.

The majority of NHS Trusts have good procedures in place to deal with the management of medical equipment. In April 2000 the Medical Devices Agency issued guidance entitled Equipped to Care
- The safe use of medical devices in the 21st century. This was distributed in Scotland by Scottish Healthcare Supplies. The aim of the guidance is to:Help nurses, midwives, health visitors, other health professionals and support workers understand their role in the safe use, purchase and management of medical devices.Provide managers with pointers to the best practices for training, purchase and maintenance of medical devices.Ensure that arrangements for purchase, use and maintenance of medical devices are firmly embedded within the local framework for clinical governance.Raise awareness about the role of MDA and how it can provide advice, guidance to support the safe use of medical devices.However, in the light of the recent baseline report by the Auditor General Equipped to Care: Managing Medical Equipment in the NHS in Scotland it is my intention that the Health Department issues further guidance to NHS Trusts in order further to improve the situation across Scotland.