New Regional Distribution Centre on Track to Open Summer 2023

The Gorsey Point project remains on track to open this summer.

January – June

• Orders placed for new RDC stock build.

April – June

• Stock build orders delivered.

June

• Blue Diamond orders issued for delivery into Gorsey Point – coinciding with customer transitions.

June – September

• Customers start being serviced out of new RDC.

September

• When all customers have transferred to the new RDC, remaining Runcorn stock will be redistributed into Gorsey Point and throughout the wider network.
• Runcorn warehouse closes.

Stock Build Forecast

Our Inventory teams provided forecasts for Gorsey Point stock build to all suppliers in mid-February. Suppliers should use these to plan and ensure that business as usual orders are not impacted by the Gorsey Point stock build – if this creates any concern, please talk to your usual Inventory contact at your earliest opportunity.

Order Timing

Long lead time orders were placed in early February, some others began from mid-February.

For most suppliers, we will start placing orders from late March – be aware these orders will be forward dated, do not immediately despatch them as we cannot accept delivery until the new facility is ready. Please despatch to meet the delivery date requested on the order.

Order Format

These orders will come from our new Oracle system, so will be in the X12345678 format. We have contacted all suppliers on this point to ensure these new style Purchase Orders (POs) can be processed. If you are not sure, please contact:

Delivery Timing

Deliveries from suppliers for the stock build will start in April 2023, quickly gathering pace to around 400 pallets daily.

As above, please do not deliver before the date requested on the purchase order, as the new building won’t be able to accept any goods.

Booking in Process

Booking in arrangements for Gorsey Point are identical to all NHS Supply Chain Facilities.

To secure a booking slot suppliers will need to send us these details:

• Purchase order number.
• Pallet quantity and type.
• Any specific date or time requirements
• Vehicle restrictions.

Full details on booking-in, labelling, presentation and delivery requirements for all NHS Supply Chain facilities are set out in our Supplier Guide which you will have received at Contract Award.

Deliveries

Gorsey Point has:

• 36 dock leveller bays, of which 4 will be available for the initial stockbuild.
• 32 will accept up to 4.2m high.
• 4 will accept up to 5.2m high.
• 2 level access bays.

Special Requirements for Early Deliveries

Some orders with early delivery dates will arrive before we have taken handover of the building from our Contractor, and so will need to follow their restrictions and rules as they will be the responsible party until the build is complete, we will confirm these details to the affected suppliers as soon as they are known.

Temperature Controlled Products

Temperature control stock cannot be accepted until June – orders will be dated accordingly.

First Customer and Blue Diamond

The first customers will be migrated to the new RDC in June. From this point suppliers will be asked to deliver Blue Diamond (cross dock) orders for customers that have moved to the new address, whilst for customers that have not moved Blue Diamond will continue being delivered to Runcorn.

Transition

Runcorn will still be fully operational during the Gorsey Point stock build. Customers will then be moved across in phases, meaning for a period both warehouses will need to carry a full range of stock lines. During this time suppliers will be asked to deliver both Stock and Blue Diamond orders into both Runcorn and Gorsey Point.

Runcorn Rundown / Transfer

Once all customers are being serviced from the new facility, we will start working towards closing the old Runcorn site, as part of which residual stock will be redistributed into Gorsey Point and throughout the wider network. You may see a reduction in order levels at this time, although we expect any impact to be minimal as the new facility is so much larger than the current one, so this surplus can most likely be absorbed as late-stage stock build.

Details of the New Gorsey Point Site

• Address: NHS Supply Chain – Gorsey Point, Mersey Gateway, Widnes, Cheshire WA8 0RN.
• GLN Code: 5019100000204.

Monthly updates will continue to be provided via the Supplier Webinar at noon on the first Wednesday of every month. You can also contact us.

Known as Gorsey Point, our new Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) for the North West will open throughout Summer 2023.

Customers currently serviced from Runcorn RDC will have their supplies transitioned to Gorsey Point – this will happen in stages, throughout the summer months and into early autumn.

Designed to meet the needs of our network and customers both now and in the future, the new RDC is part of our transformation activity.

One of the key advantages is the new site’s capacity – a significantly larger range of stocked products can be stored, leading to much greater efficiency and improved logistics.

Supplier impacts include:

• Stock build for the new site will begin early in 2023 – depending on lead times, orders will commence in either January or March.

• Orders will come from our new Oracle system, so they will be in the X12345678 format – suppliers must be able to process these order numbers.

• Improved efficiency in terms of the capability and resilience of our logistics.

• Drivers will have a smoother delivery process and significantly improved reception area.

Frequently Asked Questions: