MANAGEMENT


exemplar is in the stores of one particular Trust, staff had labelled and priced all products on the shelf before subsequently removing it all. Why? Because a sales rep had informed them it was “illegal to do so”! The reality is that relations between procurement and clinical teams can be tough, and rather than working together, clinical teams can see procurement staff as an interference.


These scenarios have generated a number of problems. As always, opportunity drives behaviour and as procurement have pushed to formalise processes with suppliers, the suppliers have found ways to avoid the procurement function and engage directly with clinicians. This has resulted in some areas of Trusts being overrun by sales representatives, and a number of supplier- driven purchasing methods that are not necessarily cost effective for the NHS, including consignment, loan kits, trial, sale or return and even permanent supplier representatives embedded in departments. Locally, most Trusts suffer from a silo


mentality; procurement functions work in isolation from the clinical teams with a focus on price, and clinical teams are focused on quality and outcome. At the moment, those objectives are mutually exclusive, but they need to merge and work more closely.


Atticus, in one of its busiest and most challenging departments; theatres. The functionality-rich inventory management solution, Atticus, developed specifically for the clinical environment offers LTH the ability to gain significant returns; which in today’s challenging healthcare environment is of overriding importance. Furthermore, as the first GS1 compliant inventory management solution in the healthcare market, Atticus provided the Trust with the opportunity to transform its supply chain operations and achieve sustainable long-term savings with the assurance of an accredited solution. Britcliffe explained: “Through implementing best practice inventory management in our theatres department it has enabled our Trust to take control of the processes, secure efficiency savings, and release valuable clinical time back to the patient.” Designed for rapid deployment, implementation was effective and successful, which has helped modernise processes and create more efficient working practices at LTH.


The benefits


Atticus has helped reduce wastage and historical inefficiencies by facilitating greater transparency, and better stock and data management. The Trust has also reported £3 million of balance sheet adjustments recovered through stock visibility. The data generated by the solution has empowered the Trust in many ways. Today,


SEPTEMBER 2017


something that few have successfully accomplished, but in reality it is within the reach of every hospital in the UK. With a reliable cost base to work from, the added bonus of an inventory management solution is the ability to undertake patient line costing and service line reporting for service-wide improvements. This means that hospitals can achieve a much greater understanding of costs, and are able to track and analyse the cost of care of individual patients. As an example, variations in the cost of care are fairly common, even within the same Trust. In this instance, patient level cost and service line reporting can help to eradicate such differences; in essence significantly reduce wastage, create greater efficiencies, and also improve patient outcomes.


Inventory management leaders


In the industry’s best practice examples, supplies are managed using highly sophisticated technologies; inventory management solutions that are designed specifically for the NHS.


As well as being able to track purchases, these hospitals are able to build a detailed picture of usage. This information is


consumption of stock is recorded at point of use, and ordering is based on ‘actual’ consumption, enabling a reduction in stock holdings. In turn, this has allowed several rooms to be cleared of stock, and reassigned for clinical usage.


There is also better control and visibility over consignment implants, which as one of the most expensive items in a Trust means costs have been cut in this area, and the likelihood of items becoming obsolete has diminished. Additionally, the establishment of a new centralised theatres store has automatically facilitated an efficient replenishment process as it automatically feeds the Trust’s stock requirements. Britcliffe continued: “With greater than anticipated benefits, our theatres department is at the forefront of effective and efficient supply chain management. One notable example is the transformation of stock control functions, which we moved away from clinical staff to supporting materials management staff. This has saved 7,104 clinical hours; time which has been relocated to frontline care.”


The way forward


LTH is a vibrant organisation with strength in many areas. It has set itself stretching targets in relation to clinical quality, operational developments and operational effectiveness, and this latest project has been subject to equally high expectations. Atticus is configurable across multiple areas with different processes which allows LTH to


A growing number of Trusts have already implemented process change and improved inventory management using innovative technology; all used the operating theatres department to begin their trials. Trials have delivered outstanding audited results, and showcased examples of how efficient and effective solutions can really and practically improve outcomes. As others now begin to recognise the benefits, interest in supply chain and inventory management is growing fast.


use just this one solution to achieve supply chain excellence across the whole Trust. Following successful implementation in the theatres department, the Trust has already commenced a programme to deploy the solution across its main site at the Royal Preston Hospital. “We continue to aspire to be among the best Trusts in the country. We have a clear vision for the way our hospital services and buildings need to operate. The financial challenge remains, and as such we work with partners, such as Ingenica Solutions to see solutions to minimise such issues. Ingenica Solutions has helped shape the future of our supply chain management,” concluded Britcliffe.


About Ingenica Solutions


Ingenica Solutions has a proven track record in delivering focused IT solutions in the areas of procurement, supply chain and inventory management, bringing significant benefits to the NHS and the challenging healthcare environment. The Ingenica Healthcare solution is developed within the Microsoft Dynamics platform. The solution enables a phased approach to implementation, configured to meet not only the current supply chain maturity of customers, but with a proven development and functionality road map. This ensures enhancements to capability continue well into the future and are scalable to meet future demand.


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