Draeger Medical – Bringing Value Release to Life

Draeger Medical is a key partner in our Diagnostics Portfolio and a valued participant in our Supplier Management Programme. As a global supplier of ventilation, anaesthesia, and warming therapy equipment, along with related accessories and consumables, Draeger plays a vital role in supporting NHS Supply Chain’s clinical and operational goals.

They were among the first suppliers to engage in a Value Release Meeting, a full-day workshop designed to foster collaboration and unlock new opportunities. Held at Draeger’s Altrincham site, which features a fully equipped operating room, the session brought together colleagues from NHS Supply Chain’s Sustainability, Resilience, Clinical, Supplier Management and Category teams, alongside Draeger’s functional experts. This hands-on environment offered valuable insights into the technologies and products available through our framework agreements.

The structure and outcomes of this meeting have helped shape our approach to future value release sessions. A key focus was embedding sustainability into the heart of supplier engagement, not just as a tender requirement, but as a core element of active contract management.

Sustainability was one of the dedicated breakout sessions, with all groups reconvening at the end of the day to share insights and identify cross-cutting opportunities. These discussions are essential for aligning supplier strategies with NHS priorities, particularly in areas like carbon reduction and social value.

Face-to-face engagement with suppliers like Draeger allows for open, honest conversations about alignment and divergence between their global strategies and NHS expectations. Understanding both the enablers and barriers to progress is crucial.

We used our ‘Sustainability 5 Asks’, mandatory criteria for all NHS Supply Chain framework suppliers, as a starting point. Ahead of the meeting, we reviewed key documents such as Draeger’s Carbon Reduction Plan, Evergreen Assessment, and Modern Slavery Assessment to ensure informed discussions.

Social value remains a hot topic, with suppliers eager to understand how best to demonstrate their impact. We emphasised the importance of focusing on the products and services provided through our frameworks, mapping their environmental impact and identifying actions to reduce it.

The workshop also explored broader sustainability opportunities within Draeger’s portfolio. Discussions included:

• Decarbonisation across product lifecycles and care pathways
• Value-based initiatives that could deliver system-wide savings
• Optimising product use to enhance efficiency and reduce waste.

These conversations are about exploring the art of the possible – nothing is off the table.

Draeger is a major supplier not only in Diagnostics but also in the Medical and Surgical category. Understanding the complexity of diagnostic equipment procurement helps manage expectations – these are not quick-switch items. Pilots and case studies involving new solutions require careful planning and stakeholder engagement.

The breakout sessions identified several long-term opportunities for collaboration, reinforcing the importance of sustained engagement.

One of the key takeaways from the meeting was the importance of data. Draeger’s expertise as a system provider includes integrated IT and digital analytics tools for operating rooms and gas management. These tools offer significant potential for:

• Cost savings
• Workflow efficiencies
• Environmental benefits.

Anaesthetic gases, including nitrous oxide, account for over 2% of NHS emissions. Draeger’s anaesthetic gas consumption analytics can help reduce this impact by collecting and analysing data from anaesthesia workstations. This enables clinicians to monitor gas usage, costs, and environmental impact via intuitive dashboards.

Low-flow anaesthesia, supported by these tools, can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions which in turn benefits patients, staff, and the environment.

Dudley NHS Foundation Trust, in collaboration with Draeger and NHS Supply Chain’s Anaesthesia Category Team, has implemented a gas consumption analytics package as part of an anaesthesia machine upgrade. Key drivers included:

• Ease of use
• Workflow efficiency
• Protective ventilation
• Sustainability.

This project highlights the potential of analytics in operating and induction rooms. However, successful implementation requires changes in theatre protocols, staff training, and a shift in approach. NHS Supply Chain is supporting this initiative, which is expected to become a formal case study. Our Sustainability team is working closely with all stakeholders to quantify the environmental benefits.

Draeger’s commitment to sustainable design aligns with the Department of Health and Social Care’s Design for Life roadmap. Their focus on resource efficiency and circularity ensures that products offered through our frameworks are better prepared for a closed-loop economy.

We look forward to exploring what circularity means in practice for Draeger’s portfolio through our Supplier Relationship Management programme in the current financial year.

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