The Department of Health (DoH) were all too aware of the exponential growth of technologies in health, and to this end formed Training for Innovation (TFI) with a view to help close the gap between medical device technology and the end-user, whether it is a nurse, healthcare professional, patient or carer. NHS Training for Innovation was founded as a project in April, 2006, following the report of the Healthcare Industries Task Force to address training issues with respect to new technology across the NHS and play a major part in triggering new and sustainable approaches to training.
“For new medical technologies, we will simplify the pathway by which they pass from development into wider use, and develop ways to benchmark and monitor uptake and training needs to enable staff to respond more effectively and flexibly to this dynamic environment…”
- Professor the Lord Darzi, Training for Innovation founding chairman.
The development of the Training Hub for Operative Healthcare (THOTH) focused its resources and attention on England but it soon became apparent the rest of the UK was facing similar challenges in terms of resources, design, development and delivery of high quality medical device training. The annual TFI workshops captured the interest of the rest of the UK and not only raised the profile of the Medical Device Trainer (MDT) but also saw a growth in regional groups with a keen interest in benchmarking, sharing and discussing at local and national level the challenges facing this newest of professions in healthcare.
When TFI handed over the management (in 2011) a new association was developed and the National Association of Medical Device Educators and Trainers was born (NAMDET). The aim of this newly formed group was to take up the challenge and maintain the momentum that had already started. A steering group was established in 2011 and was formed from the list of volunteers. This was quickly followed in 2012 by a new management group whose focus was to set up the new association and build a business model that would ensure NAMDET was officially registered in the UK.
NAMDET’s mission statement clearly sets outs its aims and aspirations and, to ensure transparency surrounding its business transactions and relationships with manufacturers, NAMDET.Ltd was formed and registered at Companies House in Cardiff with annual returns and business status recorded for all to see. As in any business set up, an association requires a number of directors with a legal responsibility to ensure good governance, financial control and operate in accordance with best business practice.