Peter Swallow MP Visits British Medical Auctions to Discuss Medical Equipment Reuse

British Medical Auctions (BMA) welcomed Peter Swallow, MP for Bracknell, to its headquarters on 2nd October for a tour of its operations and discussions about the future of medical equipment in the NHS and the role of the circular economy.

Joined by Sally Edgington, CEO of AXREM, Peter met the BMA team and saw how surplus medical equipment is managed once it is no longer required by hospitals and healthcare organisations. The visit followed BMA’s nomination by Berkshire Youth at this year’s Pride of Bracknell Forest Awards, where the business was named Business of the Year.

The tour showcased the processes behind BMA’s global marketplace, including equipment collection, cataloguing, secure data management, remarketing and international logistics. It also highlighted how the secondary market can help keep valuable medical equipment in use beyond its original healthcare setting.

A key focus of the visit was how circularity and whole-product lifecycle management could play a greater role in NHS procurement and equipment replacement decisions.

While investment in modern medical technology remains essential to supporting diagnostic capacity and patient care, replacing equipment does not necessarily mean it has reached the end of its useful life. Where appropriate, surplus and decommissioned equipment can be remarketed, allowing healthcare organisations to recover financial value while reducing unnecessary waste.

Founded ten years ago, BMA has championed this approach by connecting surplus medical equipment with buyers around the world. The business now works with more than 500 healthcare organisations, including over 65% of NHS hospitals and 85% of NHS ambulance services. Its global marketplace attracts buyers from more than 120 countries, giving equipment no longer required by one organisation the opportunity to continue delivering value elsewhere.

Mat Davies, Managing Director at British Medical Auctions, said: “We were delighted to welcome Peter to BMA and show him what happens behind the scenes once medical equipment enters the secondary market.

“There is a huge opportunity to think about medical equipment across its entire lifecycle. Continued investment in new technology is incredibly important, but we also need effective routes for equipment leaving healthcare settings.

“By remarketing equipment that still has a useful life, healthcare organisations can recover value, reduce waste and support a more circular approach to medical technology. We'd like to see that thinking become an increasingly important part of the wider conversation around equipment procurement and replacement.”

The discussions also highlighted the role organisations across the medical technology sector can play in supporting a more circular approach to healthcare. AXREM described greater NHS investment and effective routes for repair, refurbishment, reuse and resale as complementary parts of whole-lifecycle equipment management.

The visit comes as BMA celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2026, marking a decade of growth for the Bracknell-founded business and its international marketplace for surplus medical equipment.

Welcoming the local MP provided an opportunity to showcase the work taking place at its headquarters and the contribution the secondary market can make to wider discussions about value, sustainability and the future of medical technology.