Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust Home Delivery Service Implementation Saving £101,000

This was the first time that I have had experience working with NHS Supply Chain regarding the procurement and framework for the continence products contract. I would just like to say “thank you” to all that were involved with the process from start to finish. I feel that we have been well supported throughout the process and it was handled with the utmost professionalism. I look forward to continuing to work with NHS Supply Chain.

Continence Nurse Specialist (Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust)

Having been with the same service provider for many years this was a nervous time for the clinical team and procurement lead at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust. Our Home Delivery Service (HDS) Implementation Manager was challenged to provide a successful and seamless onboarding to NHS Supply Chain’s Home Delivery Service.

Some of the key challenges identified included:

• Working with a wide stakeholder group, to smoothly and seamlessly transfer the service to NHS Supply Chain within a 12-week implementation plan
• Over 100 separate tasks to manage
• Only one clinician leading and managing the service
• Multiple stakeholders within the process including the trust, the supplier, the Category Tower Service Provider, NHS Supply Chain and our 3rd Party Logistic providers which included Unipart and Movianto.

The HDS Implementation Manager directly project managed the 12-week implementation, working collaboratively with all stakeholders and engaging on regular weekly calls. An important part of the implementation was the ‘Gate 1’ Kick Off meeting which helped to set the scene and run through the plan. As this can often be considered a nervous time for a trust who have been with the same service provider for many years it was important that we laid out the plan, listened to and responded to any concerns and instilled confidence in the process to manage a successful outcome of the project.

The 12-week implementation process was broken down into a series of gates to help manage the 108 individual tasks, with specific tasks identified for various stakeholders to complete. Collaborative weekly online meetings were held with all stakeholders attending including members of the trust. The Implementation Manager offered ongoing support throughout and also engaged a two-week Hyper-Care period to ensure operational excellence and delivery of service.

During the 12 years of carrying out my role as a Clinical Nurse Specialist within Procurement I’ve dealt with NHS Supply Chain on numerous occasions, especially around framework providers and awarding of contracts. I must genuinely confess that the way that the continence contract was conducted to final award was the most professional and smoothest process I’ve had the pleasure to be involved in. I have no criticism or can offer any improvements that would improve the process for other organisations.

Procurement, Clinical Nurse Specialist (Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust)

Following a successful implementation, Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust went ‘Live’ with NHS Supply Chain’s Home Delivery Service on the 28 May 2021 with first deliveries being made to both patients and Nursing Homes. A predicted annual saving of £101,000 is expected.

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole now benefit from our Fully ‘Patient Managed’ Service, with a dedicated HDS Account Support Manager, providing quarterly financial and service data support throughout the contract.

See our Useful Links section for further information about the benefits of our HDS service.

If trusts would like support in moving across to our HDS service, please get in touch with either of our experienced HDS Customer Relationship Managers. We would welcome an initial discussion to better understand your current service requirements and to discuss the potential savings and benefits of the NHS Supply Chain disposable continence products framework.