Howard Wright wins place on significant Healthscope preferred supplier contract

Healthscope is one of Australia's leading providers of private healthcare including 43 private hospitals, Gribbles Pathology with 63 laboratories in Australia as well as laboratories in New Zealand and South East Asia, DCDL Laboratories in New South Wales and 45 Medical Centres throughout Australia.

The supply contract for Howard Wright's M7 Ward and Compact beds could involve supplying a substantial number of the 1,800 beds Healthscope is upgrading, says Howard Wright's Australian General Manger, Richard Etherton.

“This significant contract followed a trial and evaluation process at Healthscope's Prince of Wales Private Hospital in Sydney,” says Mr Etherton.

Healthscope's National Procurement Manager Karen Shepherd-Clark confirms Howard Wright's M7 bed met all Healthscope's health and safety criteria – but was also selected because it is lightweight, easy to clean and manoeuvre.

“While it also has conveniently located controls – high specification functions are all standard with the M7 bed and not additional,” says Mrs. Shepherd-Clark.

While Howard Wright has been supplying beds to Australia since the 1970s through sales representatives, the New Plymouth based company has been focusing on winning private sector contracts since it opened its own office in Sydney in 2002.

“In designing our beds we have walked in the shoes of the healthcare professional. We have literally thought about and designed for everyone who will interact with our beds - from nurses and patients through to maintenance technicians,” explains Howard Wright's CEO, Bruce Moller.

Being a medical design and manufacturing company for more than 50 years, Howard Wright knows that design is the most important differentiating attribute from its competitors.

“Our design-led approach has resulted in a range of medical beds and stretchers which are easy, safe, efficient and enjoyable to use,” reveals Mr. Moller.