Costs of replacement of anaesthetic equipment. Projected expenditure for clinical anaesthetic equipment in a teaching health district.

A study was made of all the anaesthetic equipment in clinical use to substantiate estimates of the cost of its replacement on four hospital sites. The years during which replacement was likely to become necessary were estimated from the list compiled and an existing full inventory, together with costs at 1986 prices. The predicted costs for each year until 2000 AD were derived. To these were added sums required to make good existing shortfalls and to introduce a moderate amount of equipment incorporating newer technology. The totals showed that the capital currently available in the health district is sufficient only for anaesthetic equipment and requires a substantial increase to replace medical apparatus belonging to all specialties already in routine clinical use. Health authorities must be given detailed projections of these costs.