3.13 It is important that the Trust should be able to take advantage of improvements in technology. Since the beginning of the PFI contract, there have been several examples of how the Trust has been able to work with THC Dartford through the PFI contract to introduce technology improvements including:
■ A video link between the operating theatres and the post graduate teaching centre;
■ A pay communication/entertainment system (e.g. television, phone, e-mail) for each bed;
■ A fully computerised laparoscopic operating theatre, the first in the country, known as OR1, the Operating Theatre of the Future.
The Trust retains responsibility for all new or replacement assets unless they are part of the physical infrastructure of the building. For example, certain large items of medical equipment such as scanners are centrally funded by the Department.
3.14 In 2001 the Trust decided to take back from THC Dartford responsibility for the network infrastructure of active equipment which Carillion had installed in the central infrastructure hub rooms. The Trust had been concerned that Carillion's maintenance and replacement schedule for some of the IT equipment was not quick enough after equipment failure and that Carillon was not required to provide skilled network staff to manage the equipment. THC Dartford agreed that the further IT upgrade required by the Trust could be best managed by the Trust directly.