NCP FAQs Pressure Infusers
1. Which products have been included in this NCP?
The following products have been included in this NCP exercise:
- Lot 1 Disposable (Single Use) Pressure Infusers.
2. Which suppliers were successful?
- Blue Box Medical Limited
- Fannin UK Limited
- Proact Medical Limited
- Vyaire Medical Products Limited.
3. Are any suppliers being delisted?
There are no suppliers being delisted.
4. Will all products be stocked in all depots?
The existing products will be stocked but the five new codes will be on the eDirect route with the scope to bring them into stock.
5. How were the awarded products evaluated?
The products went through an internal Hands On Product Assessment (HOPA) carried out by the NHS Supply Chain Clinical Team. Then the 500ml Pressure Infusers (‘long’ and ‘short’) were evaluated by an external testing house.
6. Will you still have stock of current products available when the disposable pressure infusers NCP is launched on 1 September 2022?
If stock within the supplying depot is unavailable, then orders will be fulfilled from another depot in the network.
7. Are the NPC codes changing?
The five existing codes (three disposable and two reusable) will stay the same with the addition of five new codes.
Please note – there is no price change to the existing five codes. The purpose of running this procurement exercise was to mitigate cost pressures being submitted at point of renewal.
This NCP has successfully maintained a cost neutral position for the existing NCP products as well as expand the product range with lower cost products. Customers will therefore have the option of switching to alternatives based on trust level clinical decisions.
8. Do I need to make any system changes to update standing orders and favourite lists?
Updates to favourites lists, standing orders and eDC requirements should be carried out by the trust in line with your normal procedures.
9. Are samples available?
Examples of the new product can be made available, one per trust, for the purposes of viewing the product that will be available to order. Please note this is an ‘example’ not a ‘sample’ and therefore the product and specification has already been CaPA (Clinical and Product Assurance team, NHS Supply Chain) assured and clinically evaluated by internal and external evaluation teams and customer representatives from the NHS.
Please contact your Clinical Nurse Advisor (CNA) with the clinical rationale for the example requirement, your CNA will then liaise with the customer support team to order it. Please note, for this supplier there is a three-week lead time upon placing an order
10. What supply chain resilience can you guarantee if one of the suppliers has a supply issue?
The NCP procurement process includes a range of due diligence activities to ensure there is supply chain resilience and sustainable continuity of supply to NHS customers.
Both NHS Supply Chain and the suppliers have increased stock holding and, in the event of any supply issue, direct alternatives will be supplied, at point of order, at no extra cost to the trust.
11. What will happen if I choose to order directly from the supplier?
NHS Improvement has been engaging with trusts directly over the expectation that they will support this national programme. Monitoring of trust spend will be in place through the national price benchmarking tool and, where a trust is not participating in the national savings programme, their actions will have to be justified.
12. What impact will this have on any customer commitment discounts and retrospective rebates?
In line with the recommendations of the Carter report there is a national strategy to deliver transparent pricing. There are therefore;
- no commitment discounts/ retrospective rebates
- no local commitment discounts/ retrospective rebates
- no facilitated commitment discount schemes.
13. What do trusts do should there be any clinical or other issue with the product allocated to their trust?
In the first instance please contact your Customer Services Advisor.
14. What if my trust is currently buying a similar product at a cheaper price?
Benchmarking prices using NHSI’s national price benchmarking tool PPIB, will highlight where a trust may be paying a cheaper local price. We would ask you to please notify NHSI and your Customer Relationship Manager of these instances in order that the situation can be addressed.
15. What support will be available to trusts during the implementation/conversion period to minimise the impact on current resources?
Support will be available from your Customer Relationship Manager, and the successful suppliers can provide you with product training and information if required.
Information is also available via our Clinical Nurse Advisors.
See our Useful Links section for more information.
16. Where can I get more detailed information?
Please visit www.supplychain.nhs.uk/ncp for the latest information about NCP.
You can also contact your Customer Relationship Manager or Customer Services Advisor.
See our Useful Links section for more information.