New Inventory Management Solutions to Enhance Patient Care and Operational Efficiency

Deploying inventory management solutions is a transformative step for NHS trusts. Our goal is to empower them with the tools and understanding they need to make data-driven decisions that enhance patient care and operational efficiency.

Cameron Kantar, Benefits and Business Improvement Lead, NHS Supply Chain

We are set to enhance patient care and streamline operations by deploying advanced inventory management and point-of-care solutions to 20 NHS trusts over the next two years. NHS Supply Chain will manage the programme on a national level to deliver substantial benefits such as cash releasing savings, improved patient safety and experience, and increased productivity, by reducing the time spent on administrative tasks.

Many NHS trusts lack the systems to understand and utilise their data effectively. There is no consensus on the benefits of Inventory Management Systems (IMS), including what these benefits are, how to track them, and the importance of qualitative and quantitative metrics. This uncertainty hampers the ability to make informed decisions and prioritise improvements.

Our In-Hospital Services team, supported by our Solutions Development team, is addressing these challenges. We help trusts extract and understand their data, providing a suite of tools and guidance through each stage of the process. This includes a data formatting template, a benefit forecasting tool, and ongoing support for data analysis and commentary.

We have developed and implemented a data formatting tool, followed by a benefit forecasting tool. Our Solutions Development team collaborated with our In-Hospital Services team to deliver in-depth data analysis and expert commentary. This comprehensive support ensures trusts can accurately establish baselines, build robust business cases, and forecast future needs.

With NHS Supply Chain’s support, trusts can now create accurate baselines and business cases, as well as reliable forecasting models. This enables trust personnel to confidently engage with key stakeholders and executives, armed with a thorough understanding of their own data.

We will continue to support NHS trusts by working closely with local teams to better understand their requirements and needs. We will also develop additional automated tools and provide further guidance to ensure sustained improvements in inventory management and patient care.

See our Useful Links section for further information about Inventory Management Systems (IMS).