The Lincolnshire Community Equipment Service (LCES)

General Description of the Current Service

The Lincolnshire Community Equipment Service (LCES) is a loan Service which is required to help meet the Health and Social Care needs of people of all ages, including children, who have long term conditions and disabilities. As a jointly commissioned contract between Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) and Lincolnshire ICB, it is a key contributor to the Health and Social Care integration agenda. The community equipment is supplied, maintained, collected, recycled and stored by the Service Provider.

The equipment provided is summarised below:

Simple Aids to Daily Living (SADLs) – small selection of products to aid independent living including perching stools, trolleys, bathing and toileting aids, and walking aids;
Complex Aids to Daily Living (CADLs) – includes hoists, slings, powered equipment and specialist bathing equipment; beds / accessories, nursing and pressure care equipment;
Bespoke / Non-Stock Equipment – includes items that do not form part of the standard equipment product range and are instead additional ‘one-off’ items that meet the Patient’s / Customer’s assessed needs;
Provision of Ceiling Track Hoists, Ramps and Rails;
Provision of Weighing Scales Service.

The main objectives of the LCES Contract are set out below:

To promote independent living with the community;
To help people live at home wherever possible;
To help relieve pressure on acute hospitals by assisting with discharge arrangements and preventing avoidable admissions to hospital;
To allow people’s health care needs to be met in their own homes;
To help prevent early readmission to hospital;
To enable carers to provide better quality care;
To reduce admission to temporary and / or permanent residential care;
To enable Service User’s and Carers to receive the best possible service in accordance with the lifestyle and wishes of each individual. This shall require a flexible attitude, an open minded approach to Service provision and a regard for the best interests of the Service User.