SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES
throughout the year across the clinical landscape but is time-consuming unless a sophisticated middleware is in use to compare activity over time. As part of any testing frequency changes, service users could be reminded of why the test is performed and for which patients, while being directed to testing protocols or national guidance. This may serve as a reset and help control future testing activity with associated financial and clinical benefits.
Central control Where severe shortages of critical tests occur, there is likely to be a level of control implemented by national bodies. For this to be effective, networks need to engage with the national body in their respective global territory. This may require each organisation or network to report their stock holding, resulting in retrieval and reallocation to other services in greater need. Reallocation also works internally where issued stock should be retrieved and provided to areas where critical stock levels exist.
National networks will be in constant communication with suppliers and alternative supply chains to source stock on behalf of care deliverers. Engaging in these national networks through service leads, procurement leads and quality
Organisations, including point-of-care teams, should devise business continuity plans for their most critical services and develop mutual aid agreements
managers is key to staying informed of evolving and resolving situations.
Communication from suppliers In recent supply crises the end users have been informed far too late to put adequate measures in place. Better communication from manufacturers and distributors is required to avoid catastrophic impact on areas of patient care. Not all point-of-care tests are available in the local laboratory, and when it comes to volumes of testing (eg glucose and urinalysis), reverting to laboratory testing will provide additional pressure on services and delays in clinical management of the patient. It is recognised that all aspects of the supply chain are prone to supply interruption, and that vendors have done everything possible to increase production, obtain raw materials from new sources, manage workforce issues and absorb rising costs.
Ongoing challenge The factors affecting the supply chain are unlikely to be resolved in the coming months, and some speculate that the problems will remain for the next two years, with current unaffected supplies experiencing similar frustrations in the future. Healthcare services are complex and heavily reliant on a stable supply chain to deliver optimised patient care. Organisations, including point-of-care teams, should devise business continuity plans for their most critical services, develop mutual aid agreements and source alternative products that can be adopted rapidly to maintain services that must not be interrupted.
For more information about this and other issues affecting point-of-care testing and delivery, visit
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