Over the course of two days, the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) highlighted the importance of consumer protection, and the value of working with members, at this year’s Naidex.
Held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on the 15 and 16 September, the September event marked the return of Naidex after the cancellation of the 2020 show as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Throughout the show, the BHTA team explained how member companies go above and beyond for consumers by voluntarily committing to abide by our Code of Practice – the only code in the industry approved under the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI)’s Consumer Codes Approval Scheme.
In particular, the team detailed the protections afforded to consumers under the BHTA Code, including free mediation and independent arbitration, as well as the peace of mind consumers enjoy when buying from member companies.
End-users and their families, friends and carers gained insight into what the BHTA badge means and why to look out for it when searching for providers of healthcare and assistive technology equipment and services. The team also handed out a wide range of useful and informative literature to consumers, ranging from guidance on how to buy a mobility vehicle, to advice on how to safely operate powered mobility devices.
Calvin Barnett, Head of Marketing and Communications for the British Healthcare Trades Association, commented:
“It was fantastic to finally see consumers, healthcare professionals, and the industry, reunited under one roof after such a prolonged and difficult period. Naidex always provides us with a great opportunity to get face to face with the people we aim to protect and support, allowing us to inform them about the benefits of working with our members.”
In addition to engaging with consumers, the BHTA also raised awareness among healthcare professionals in attendance, distributing the Association’s range of useful guidance papers and discussing the need to signpost clients to our members.
“Alongside having the chance to speak with consumers and healthcare professionals, it was also great for us to be able to reconnect face to face with many of our members as well,” continued Calvin.
“Being able to discuss some of our upcoming plans and campaigns with members was great, and we are excited to unveil more in the coming months.”
Published: 24th September 2021
The British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) is urging its members to continue to prioritise the health and safety of all those they interact with as COVID-19 restrictions lift in England.
It follows the government’s decision to proceed with moving England to Step 4 of the roadmap out of lockdown, with the 19th of July being called ‘Freedom Day’. It marks the end of a wide array of COVID-19 restrictions, but comes amid a significant rise in COVID-19 cases; according to government data, 48,161 new COVID cases and 25 more coronavirus-related deaths were reported on Sunday.
With many of the restrictions, such as face coverings in shops, being downgraded from mandatory to advisory, the BHTA is encouraging members to take all necessary precautions to keep their teams, and those they interact with, as safe as possible.
BHTA members are responsible for the design, production and distribution of vital healthcare and assistive technologies (including medical devices, acute and community care products, independent living technologies/products, and associated services) across England.
The association estimates that its members have over 100,000 face-to-face interactions with patients with long-term conditions, disabled and elderly people each week.
To assist, the association is reminding members to take full advantage of their BHTA Business Services support benefit.
Provided as part of the BHTA membership package, members receive free unlimited access to advice and support on four key services: HR, legal, health and safety, and tax. It includes five advice lines and three document libraries with over 800 template documents.
Dr Simon Festing, Chief Executive Officer for the British Healthcare Trades Association, commented:
“As England moves to Step 4, our members face the considerable challenge of keeping their teams, and their customers and service users, safe.
“Throughout the pandemic, our members have continued to go above and beyond in the interests of those they serve, and we urge them to continue prioritising the safety of those they interact with. In particular, we strongly advise members to carefully read the government’s latest guidance and to heed its six priority actions: Complete a health and safety risk assessment that includes the risk from COVID-19, provide adequate ventilation, clean more often, turn away people with COVID-19 symptoms, enable people to check in at your venue, and communicate and train their teams.
“For those uncertain of what their obligations are to staff and customers under the new COVID-19 rules, we encourage members to take full advantage of the free BHTA Business Services support benefit that is included as part of their membership. The service provides personalised advice around health and safety, HR and legal to help members traverse this uncertain period.
“The BHTA team is also available for members that have additional questions or concerns arising from the new government guidance. Together, the BHTA and its members will continue to support the industry to ensure a fair, ethical and safe trading environment for all the industry serves.”
Members can contact marketing@bhta.com to receive further information regarding their free BHTA Business Services support access, including their personalised login information.
The appeal to members follows the BHTA’s recent push for the new self-isolation rules brought in for frontline NHS and care workers in England to be extended to eligible workers across the health and care industry.
Click here for the latest Step 4 guidance and advice for businesses from the government
Published: 20th July 2021
*** For immediate release***
[May, 2021. London, UK] The British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) is encouraging older people to go ahead with making vital home adaptations by seeking out its certified members.
It comes following the publication of new research, suggesting almost a third (32 per cent) of English adults in their 50s and 60s could be put off from making vital home repairs and improvements because of a lack of trust in tradespeople.
The research examines the barriers facing older people when attempting to make essential improvements to their homes that are necessary to ensure their ongoing independence.
Carried out by Ipsos MORI for the Good Home Inquiry, an independent review of England’s poor-quality housing stock commissioned by the Centre for Ageing Better, the survey was conducted online with adults in England aged 18-75 to understand people’s attitudes around home improvements.
In particular, the survey examined what factors caused distrust and instilled confidence in tradespeople among those aged 50 to 70, with a significant percentage (32%) stating that they did not trust tradespeople.
Examining the top three causes of mistrust among this demographic, the research highlighted that concerns over tradespeople not doing a good job was the biggest factor (59%), closely followed by worries that tradespeople won’t give a fair cost for the job (56%), as well as wariness having experienced problems with tradespeople in the past (44%).
Additionally, fears over the price of work increasing (42%) and people being encouraged to pay for unnecessary work (39%) also ranked highly among those aged 50 to 70.
The results emphasise the need for older people to be able to trust tradespeople to carry out home repairs in their homes, to ensure they can remain healthier and independent for longer and reduce pressure on NHS and social care services.
Along with uncovering the causes of mistrust, the research also surveyed which factors instil more confidence in people aged 50 to 70 when hiring a tradesperson. Notably, a significant one in three (34%) people confirmed that the tradesperson being a member of an accredited trade association, such as the BHTA, increased their level of trust.
Representing over 400 companies in the healthcare and assistive technology industry, the BHTA and its members work to create an ethical trading environment that gives consumers confidence.
All BHTA members commit to adhering to the association’s Code of Practice – the only code in the industry approved under the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI)’s Consumer Codes Approval Scheme, ensuring its members trade ethically and professionally.
Dr Simon Festing, Chief Executive Officer of the British Healthcare Trades Association, commented:
“The results of this research reveal all our fears of dodgy tradespeople. But we believe that with the right approach, older people can still go ahead and get essential adaptations and improvements to their homes, which they need to live healthier and independent lives.
“As one of the longest-established trade associations in the healthcare sector, the BHTA understands just how important trust is when it comes to having work carried out for vital installations, such as handrails, stairlifts, ramps and level access bathrooms.
“We would encourage all consumers to go ahead and make the necessary changes to their homes to keep themselves safe, mobile and independent, by seeking out a BHTA member. Our members commit to our Code of Practice, ensuring they uphold standards over and above the law, to give consumers confidence that they are professional and ethical.
“Also, consumers have the added peace of mind of knowing that in the rare event that a dispute does occur between themselves and a member, the BHTA is on hand to provide a fair and transparent mediation service.
“We recommend consumers look for the BHTA’s logo on companies’ websites and literature when searching for companies that provide and install home adaptations. The logo acts as a badge of trust and can be found proudly displayed by all BHTA members. Consumers can also find, and verify, our members of the BHTA by visiting our website.”
To find or verify a BHTA member, visit www.bhta.com/bhta_members
To enquire about becoming a member of the BHTA, contact membership@bhta.com
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About the BHTA: Representing over 400 companies in the healthcare and assistive technology industry, the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) supports its members to help ensure the best outcomes for the most vulnerable in society. All BHTA members are committed to adhering to the Association’s Code of Practice – the only code in the industry approved by The Chartered Trading Standards Institute.
About the CTSI: The BHTA Code of Practice – the first for consumers in the healthcare industry – is approved under the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI)’s Consumer Codes Approval Scheme, ensuring all BHTA member companies trade ethically and professionally.
Good Home Inquiry Survey: The survey by Ipsos MORI was conducted online between 19th February – 22nd February 2021 within 1,020 adults in England aged 18-75. Data are weighted to the profile of the population
The Good Home Inquiry: Commissioned by the Centre for Ageing Better, is an Inquiry into England’s housing policies to determine causes of, and solutions to, the country’s current housing crisis. Although commissioned by Ageing Better, the Inquiry will be led by an independent panel and chaired by David Orr. The Inquiry supports Ageing Better’s goal of reducing the number of homes classed as ‘non-decent’ by at least one million by 2030.
To find out more about the Centre for Ageing Better, visit www.ageing-better.org.uk
To find out more about The Good Home Inquiry, visit www.ageing-better.org.uk/good-home-inquiry
Media contact: Calvin Barnett, Head of Marketing and Communications
Contact phone no: 07741 641702
Contact email: marketing@bhta.com