Amalthea Trust at EBME Expo 2025

Amalthea Trust at EBME Expo 2025: Practical Volunteering That Keeps Equipment Working

The EBME Expo 2025 opened with a grounded reminder: sometimes the most transformative engineering isn’t a new platform, it’s a screwdriver, a service manual, and a student learning beside you. In his update, Martin from the Amalthea Trust outlined how volunteer biomedical engineers can directly improve access to safe care in low-resource settings by teaching the hands-on skills that keep devices working.

Why Practical Biomedical Engineering Skills Matter in Low-Resource Healthcare

Amalthea’s model is refreshingly simple: partner with existing training institutions and fill the gap between theory and practice.

• Institution-first approach: Volunteers support diploma/degree programmes and in-service CPD through local universities and colleges—so capability stays where it’s needed.

• Focus on user training: “Most equipment breakdowns happen due to misuse,” Martin noted—cables dragged through corridors, fluids poured over anaesthesia systems—issues that engineering-led user education can prevent.

• Advocacy that unlocks budgets: The Trust works with ministries, hospital administrators and regional networks to add biomedical engineering budget lines—so parts, test kits and posts are funded, not just clinical roles.

“Pull out your screwdrivers… this is how you get the back off, test for errors, maintain it, repair it.” —Martin, Amalthea Trust

What Biomedical Engineering Volunteers Actually Do

• Time commitment: Typically 1–2 weeks on site, or single-day virtual teardown clinics that mirror a local team’s device step-by-step.
  
  
• Costs covered: Flights, accommodation, insurance, subsistence, necessary prophylaxis—“it won’t cost you a penny, just some of your time.”

• Support: In-country program managers and experienced BMEs; structured objectives with host institutions.

How Volunteering Aligns with NHS Priorities 

The NHS Long Term Plan champions digitally enabled, efficient services and better equipment uptime. Volunteering builds leadership, troubleshooting discipline, and training skills that clinical engineers bring straight back to UK services—while expanding global system resilience. Think of it as CPD with real-world impact.

How Clinical Engineers Can Get Involved with Amalthea Trust

• Volunteer: Offer a week in person or a day online for a focused device session (e.g., ultrasound or anaesthesia systems).

• Develop materials: Help create practical modules, checklists and competency assessments that local educators can sustain.

• Donate wisely: Coordinate surplus consumables and serviceable equipment via logistics partners (the Trust works with Hilditch Group).

• Advocate: Share outcomes with your Trust, this is workforce development, not “time away.”

Register to attend the EBME Expo 2026!