ESRC IMPACTS ESRC IMPACTS
HE IMPORTANCE OF logistics to healthcare provision has long been recognised within the NHS. It’s an area of massive cost and directly affects the experiences of patients
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A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) study of hospital logistics led to savings of over £358,000 through more effective transport solutions
visiting hospitals. A recent Knowledge Transfer Partnership
Healthcare efficiency T
(KTP), between Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust (tPCT) and Manchester Business School, sought to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare provision by analysing the Trust’s logistics operation and making recommendations on how it could improve its service and reduce operating costs. As well as the ESRC, the project was sponsored
by the Technology Strategy Board and the Northern Way – a unique initiative that brings together the cities and regions of the North of England to work together to improve the sustainable economic development of the North and bring it to the level of more prosperous regions. NHS Bradford and Airedale provides healthcare services to the 500,000 people in the local area and employs around 2,500 people, the majority in clinical posts. In recent years, the Trust made several attempts to improve access for patients to its health services by looking at transport issues, which often caused problems, but their success was limited. Through the KTP, the Trust got the benefit of the business school’s expertise and a fresh approach to analysing the logistics problems. The collaboration between the Trust and the business school demonstrated how effective it can be to apply formal business improvement tools and techniques to a public sector service setting to identify areas of weakness, make recommendations for improvement and analyse performance. Through the initiatives introduced, Bradford
and Airedale tPCT has become more effective and efficient in the way it runs logistics. Since carrying out the business school’s recommendations, all patient, staff, and non-patient movements are more efficient and require less trips, meaning less vehicles on the road. As well as providing a better service, the
Trust has seen significant financial savings from more effective contracting, the use of community transport in place of more expensive transport
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Implementing efficient logistical arrangements not only serves the public better, it also saves the taxpayer money
methods, and a reduction in the number of missed appointments. Estimates put the amount saved to date at over £358,000, freeing resources to provide additional services. The project also created new relationships with other local healthcare organisations, maximising benefits across the region, and won an award at the 2010 Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Awards. Jim Bamford, service improvement manager
at NHS Bradford and Airedale, said: “We are delighted to have won the award. The project was not just about reviewing the transport needs of the local population, it was also about getting better health outcomes for patients. “In addition, by reducing the amount of vehicles on the road, we will in turn have a positive impact on reducing our carbon footprint.” Dr David Bamford, senior lecturer at
Manchester Business School said: “The project results prove the impact that is achievable through focused knowledge transfer. The project has made a direct impact on patients’ lives by improving access to healthcare and the highly successful partnership approach with NHS Bradford and Airedale continues through the commissioning of two further knowledge transfer projects.” n
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