Our new programme is designed to enable proactive engagement with NHS trusts, in order to help us design and develop the right procurement strategies, and achieve enhanced benefit for the wider NHS.
Facilitated by our Voice of the Customer team, we are looking for customers from across a range of roles and disciplines to join one of our panels. The aim of the panels is to gather key customer knowledge and insight to help shape our future procurement activity.
The overall aim of this programme is to ensure the customer voice is embedded into the implementation and delivery of our category strategies. This will ensure that we will supply products that:
- Are suitable for use.
- Provide value for money.
- Meet the needs of the NHS.
What benefits will trusts get by partaking in category strategy customer advisory panels?
As well as learning about innovations being added to the new framework, customers will gain:
- Ability to suggest new innovations that may be suitable to be added to the framework, to benefit patient care, care pathways and drive value for the NHS.
- First sight of and input into potential savings levers, to factor into a savings work plan.
- Greater engagement with us across our procurement activity, including visibility of key milestones within the procurement process.
How much time will I need to commit?
Requirements on your time and commitment may vary, dependant on the framework type and category area. There will be flexibility in the different types of engagement, and how we collate your feedback:
- Microsoft Teams meetings
- Live polls
- Questionnaires
- Email communications.
The decision was made to open up the engagement into category strategy, moving away from a sole responsible trust (Lead Reference Trust) to ensure we are capturing input from a wider scope of customers to support a strategy aligned to customer needs.
There will be opportunity to review and provide feedback on the current framework prior to us going out to tender for the category area. Updates will be provided post procurement activity, as well as seeking your feedback on the initial outcomes of the tender.
Once procurement activity is concluded, customers will be provided with details of the outcome via contract launch communications (available six weeks prior to the framework / contract start date).
Category Strategy Customer Advisory Panels
As a priority, we are currently looking for expertise to join our panels in April in the product area of Cleaning Supplies – Chlorine Tablets NCP programme.
Covering:
- Peripheral Intravenous cannula (PIVC) – Non-winged cannula, Non-Ported Winged Cannula, Ported Cannula with wings
- Safety Peripheral Intravenous Cannula – Safety non-winged Cannula, Safety non-ported winged Cannula, Safety Cannula Ported with wings
- Metal needle winged device with extension
- Safety Metal needle winged device with extension
- Subcutaneous infusion set with extension
- Safety Subcutaneous infusion set with extension
- Safety Integrated Cannula – Also known as closed IV catheter systems. Safety integrated cannula with wings/closed IV catheter systems integrate individual components usually assembled by the clinician during the insertion of a peripheral IV cannula. The components incorporated into these new devices include: IV catheter, bilateral flexible wings and an extension set.
- Safety Cannulation Packs – collection of devices intended for the introduction of an included intravenous peripheral vein cannula / subcutaneous infusion with extension/safety integrated cannula. In addition to the cannula / infusion set, it includes non-dedicated devices intended to support the procedure [for example tourniquet, swabs, dressings, disinfectants (such as alcohol), tape, gloves].
- Accessories – Items used with, or to support the use of cannula, including limb cradles and tubing
Topics for discussion would include:
- Experience of the current framework and any suggestions for improvement
- Feedback regarding product switching – specifically training in new product use, any other barriers to switching and other general feedback
- Any innovations you know of that you would like added to the framework – including methods to warm the cannula site to improve vascular access
- Product range and whether there are any products missing from the framework
- Any sustainability considerations – primarily waste products arising from the procedure
- Any ways the framework can support reducing healthcare inequalities
- Any areas you would like an Information for Clinical Choice* to assist with product selection and specifications
Roles required:
- Clinical Procurement Specialists
- Category Managers
- Clinical Trainers
- Infection Control specialists
- IV Access specialists
- Critical Care Leads
First panel: June 2025
Second Panel: 2027
Framework Start Date: March 2027
* Information for Clinical Choice (ICC) has been developed to assist clinicians in the decision-making process when assessing the suitability of a product by providing a clear illustration and description of the features of a range of similar products supplied through NHS Supply Chain.
See our Useful Links section to learn more about Information for Clinical Choice.
Combined Customer Panel for two frameworks:
1. Intravenous Accessories and Pressure Monitoring Accessories
Covering:
- Intravenous Accessories – Filters, Plugs, Stoppers, Stopcocks, Adaptors, Connectors, Spikes and Valves
- Pressure Monitoring Accessories – Single, Double and Triple kits
2. Extension Sets and Lines
Covering:
- Dedicated Pump Set (extension)
- Standard Pump Set (extension)
- Standard Pump Set with Anti-Syphon
- Gravity Set
- Gravity Set with Anti-Reflux
- TIVA (Anti-Syphon and Anti-Reflux)
- NR Fit
Please note this framework is for extension sets the dedicated pump sets standalone are available on the Infusion Pumps and Administration Sets and Associated Products Framework
Topics for discussion would include:
- Experience of the current framework and any improvements required
- Any innovations you know of that you would like added to the framework
- Any feedback on supply routes and lead times
- Product range and whether there are any products missing from the framework
- Any sustainability considerations
- Any ways the framework can support reducing healthcare inequalities
- Any areas you would like an Information for Clinical Choice* in order to assist with product selection and specifications
Roles Required:
- Clinical Procurement Specialists
- Category Managers
- Clinical Trainers
- Mechanical Engineering Leads
- Critical Care Leads
First Panel: June 2025
Second Panel: 2027
Framework Start Date: TBC 2027
* Information for Clinical Choice (ICC) has been developed to assist clinicians in the decision-making process when assessing the suitability of a product by providing a clear illustration and description of the features of a range of similar products supplied through NHS Supply Chain.
See our Useful Links section to learn more about Information for Clinical Choice.
Topics for discussion would include:
- Total Cardiology and Radiology Solution – New Framework Structure
- Rationalisation
- Clinical Choice
- Barriers to Care
- Simplification
- Future Goals
Roles Required:
- Consultant Cardiologist – Interventional Cardiology
- Consultant Cardiologist – Interventional and Structural Cardiology
- Consultant Cardiologist – Cardiac Rhythm Management
- Consultant Cardiologist – Electrophysiologist
- Consultant Cardiologist – Heart Failure
- Consultant Cardiologist – Imaging
- Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist
- Lead Cardiac Physiologist
- Superintendent Radiographer
- Superintendent Cardiac Radiographer
- Consultant Interventional Neuroradiologist
- Consultant Interventional Radiologist
- Consultant Stroke Physician
- Lead Perfusionist
- Consultant Cardiac Surgeon
- Consultant Thoracic Surgeon
- Consultant Congenital cardiac surgeon
- Vascular Surgeon
First Panel: April 2025
Second Panel: TBC
Framework Start Date: April 2027
To help develop a strategy to procure Chlorine tablets for all trusts through the National Contracted Product (NCP) programme. This is to assure supply and support trusts with reducing the cost of the product.
We need to understand the requirements of customers, what potential implications there may be to standardising as part of an NCP, as well as support in defining a product specification and any testing requirements to ensuring product efficacy.
Roles Required:
- Infection Prevention
- Housekeeping
- Ward Managers
- Clinical Procurement Specialists
- Head of Facilities
- Estate Managers
First Panel: Thursday 3 April 2 – 2.45pm
Second Panel: TBC
Framework Start Date: TBC
Covering:
- Short to Medium Term Clinical Service Solutions
- Long Term Managed Equipment and Clinical Service Solutions; (providing staffed and/or unstaffed managed equipment and clinical service solutions on or off hospital sites)
- Professional Consultancy for Managed Services
Key Objectives:
To understand if there are any improvements required, support that can be provided, opportunities to consider for the framework renewal from a customer perspective.
Roles Required:
- Procurement
- Radiology Departments
- Operations Manager
- Services Manager
First Panel: Tuesday 11 February 2025 11 – 11.45am
Second Panel: TBC
Framework Start Date: February 2026
Covering:
- Clinical and Offensive Waste Bags
- Domestic Waste Bags
- Unprinted White, Clear and Coloured Bags
- Patient Property and Carrier Bags
- Soluble Laundry Bags – interleaved
- Specimen/Re-sealable bags
- PEVA Body Bags
- Alginate Stitch Laundry Bags
- Cytotoxic Waste Bag
- Drawsheets Polythene
- Mattress Bags
- Printed Bags
Topics for discussion would include:
- Experience of the current framework and any improvements required.
- Any innovations you know of that you would like in the framework.
- Product range and whether there are any products missing from the framework.
- Any sustainability considerations.
- Any areas you would like an Information for Clinical Choice* in order to assist with product selection and specifications.
Roles Required:
- Procurement Specialists
- Category Managers
- Waste Managers
First Panel: February 2025
Second Panel: TBC
Framework Start Date: October 2025
* Information for Clinical Choice (ICC) has been developed to assist clinicians in the decision-making process when assessing the suitability of a product by providing a clear illustration and description of the features of a range of similar products supplied through NHS Supply Chain.
See our Useful Links section to learn more about Information for Clinical Choice.
Sign Up to Join One of Our Panels
If you would like to join one of our category strategy customer advisory panels please use our registration form.
For any other future category strategies that are not specified here, or for general queries about the programme, please contact us.
Voice of the Customer (VoC) Team
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