Wirral finds £3 million in supply chain savings

Wirral University Teaching Hospital has identified nearly £3 million of their expenditure to channel through the new NHS Supply Chain.

Previously, such expenditure would have likely been spent directly with suppliers, but by using NHS Supply Chain the trust will benefit from economies of scale and are in line for savings in both time and money in a number of areas.

The trust’s procurement team has worked with NHS Supply Chain to successfully convert the £2.9million, and hope to confirm further cost benefits in the year ahead.

The new NHS Supply Chain model is a response to Lord Carter’s review of productivity in the NHS, which identified unwarranted variation in procurement across the service. It is helping the NHS deliver clinically assured, quality products at the best value through a range of specialist buying functions. It leverages the buying power of the NHS to negotiate the best deals from suppliers, with the aim to deliver savings of £2.4 billion back into NHS frontline services and patient care by financial year 2022/23.

Specialist buyers ensure delivery of quality products that are right for patients and cost effective. They are supported by the Clinical and Product Assurance Team who ensure that products procured on behalf of the NHS are fit for purpose, value for money, safe and represent professional, patient and carer needs. Furthermore, NHS Supply Chain works in partnership with front line clinicians, who will continuously evaluate new products before these are made available in the catalogue.

Janice Weedall, senior procurement manager at the trust, said: "I would just like to mention how positive this experience has been. This process has involved high volumes of work for all parties involved …which included regular meetings and calls to ensure as smooth a transition as possible, but we are hopefully going to see the benefit of this in the coming weeks."