The Procurement Team at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) have been shortlisted as ‘Team of the Year’ in the Health Care Supplies Association (HCSA) 2017 awards.
Hospital procurement departments are responsible for managing purchasing activity, negotiating pricing for essential items and planning what the organisation will need in the future in order to continue delivering high quality care, as efficiently as possible.
The nomination caps a particularly successful year for the team. Achievements include earning an NHS Procurement accreditation for collaborative work alongside Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, getting the best deal for the local NHS. Together with the neighbouring Trust, the team were the first to achieve this award in Yorkshire and Humber.
Other innovations include the implementation of a new ‘procure-to-pay system’. An efficient online ordering system, the refreshed service has enabled the Trust to go paperless when ordering items, removing the need for paper requisitions which, for such a large hospital set across three sites, could become cumbersome and inefficient.
The team are also the lead for the first ‘Nationally Contracted Product Programme’ (NCPP) of couch rolls. The handy items, which look like big kitchen towels, are used by medical and clinical staff to ensure beds remain clean and hygienic. Combining national as well as local demand, the programme looks to purchase products on behalf of the whole of the NHS to deliver savings, a project which has saved £1 million nationally.
These successes have also lead to development opportunities within the team of 40, with a number of individuals gaining qualifications and accreditations from the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply.
Andrea Smith, Procurement Director at DBTH, said: “We are incredibly proud to be shortlisted and that the excellent work we do day in and day out has been recognised by the industry. We work hard to continuously improve our procurement and supply chain processes, gaining the best deal for the health service, and this nomination recognises the efforts and achievements of the entire team.”
The HCSA promotes and represents procurement and supply professionals within the NHS and the awards are a showcase for NHS procurement excellence. The team of the year is awarded to services which demonstrate excellent customer service, deliver financial benefit, develop good practice and work alongside partners in the health service as well as private and public industry.
Jon Sargeant, Director of Finance at the Trust, congratulated the team saying: “I am delighted the team has been shortlisted for this prestigious award and this nomination is a testament to their skills and expertise. The team are leading the way in procurement and to be recognised by their peers is testament to their hard work and dedication. Good luck!”
The Awards will be presented on Thursday 30 November 2017 at the Harrogate Convention Centre.