Category: In the News

Clinically-Driven GPO Contract Delivers Significant Value

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HealthTrust Europe is excited to announce the launch of our latest GPO contract for Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT). This clinically-driven sourcing exercise has produced significant Value (quality, safety and service benefits) for our GPO members, as well as double-digit savings.

Five GPO members committed to award to a sole supplier, which strengthened our negotiations with the supplier community and delivered a group average of 49% discount off previous year spend.

This full OJEU tender process involved a robust quality evaluation model with clinicians coming together and embracing the opportunity to design the specifications and agree the requirements they deemed necessary for products they will use to deliver quality patient care.

The quality evaluation stage ensured products were suitable for use in a variety of different environments within both acute and community settings. A comprehensive provision of training and support was essential to provide end-users with the knowledge to use the products and reasoning for use of different dressings. This also encompassed educational sessions, competency-based training on-site within the clinical setting and train-the-trainer activities.

Focused on ensuring products are safe, appropriate and effective for use, the quality evaluation stage also established warranty cover, frequent service for pumps and a protocol for repair of faulty devices.

The top two highest scoring suppliers then moved onto a one month product evaluation period within some of the participating trusts. Tissue Viability Nurses were provided with training for both devices before evaluating them with various dressing changes. Our in-house clinical staff then collated and verified the scoring to confirm the awarded supplier.

HealthTrust Europe develops partnerships with its supplier community and is committed to ensuring a smooth and successful transition for members who move to a new supplier. As this was the case for several members, the awarded supplier is required to meet a variety of KPIs during the implementation phase to ensure this is achieved within the agreed timescales.

This offering is exclusively available to GPO members who agreed to participate within the category, committing clinical engagement and spend from their trust which when aggregated enabled the movement of market share and the award to a sole supplier to drive significant saving opportunities for the good of the group.

Interested in accessing the industry’s best prices? Contact our Customer Care team to discuss GPO membership on 0845 887 5000 or email customercare@htepg.com

First GPO Contract Delivers Cost Saving Opportunities

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The first GPO contract has been awarded for Disposable Gowns, achieving a group average of 14% discount off previous year spend for our members. This was a clinically-driven sourcing exercise with commitment from six GPO members to award to a sole supplier.

Clinical end-users representative of Consultants, Surgeons & Nurses worked with us to define the clinical specifications which were taken to market. Together, we reviewed product samples from a range of suppliers and determined the characteristics for a high quality product that all clinical stakeholders would be happy with. These were then built into specifications and criteria for evaluating products.

Following the scoring of tender submissions, the top two scoring suppliers moved forward to product evaluations.

Product evaluations were undertaken across a number of clinical services and stakeholders who deemed the Medline gowns to be of the highest quality and clinically acceptable. Product evaluation scores were aligned to tender submission scores on quality and price, to identify the ‘sole’ winning supplier Medline.

Clinical end-users remain engaged in the process working with their procurement colleagues, HealthTrust Europe and Medline to ensure smooth implementation of the contract. The move away from the incumbent suppliers to Medline will be supported by our dedicated team to ensure full conversion within the agreed timescales.

An exciting outcome and a demonstration of what a clinically driven group purchasing model is able to deliver

Interested in accessing the industry’s best prices? Contact our Customer Care team to discuss GPO membership on 0845 887 5000 or email customercare@htepg.com

GPO Model Demonstrates Partnership and Aligned Decision-Making

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As the only national committed-model group purchasing organisation (GPO) in the UK, we take clinical and commercial requirements to market on behalf of our members and undertake procurement activities aimed at obtaining the highest quality products and services at the best price for healthcare providers.

Our clinically-driven sourcing process underpins our mission to strengthen provider performance and clinical excellence to ultimately improve healthcare in the communities we serve.

Established in 2016, a group of customers were invited to join HealthTrust Europe in building a GPO, using a proven model from our parent organisation in the US, and a focus on driving value (Quality, Safety, Service and Price). Today our membership has grown to fifteen members which are listed below:

Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust
HCA Healthcare UK
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Wye Valley NHS Trust

Each month, representatives from our members participate in advisory board meetings and govern all contract decisions. The Clinical Advisory Board, representative of doctors, nurses, technicians, pharmacists and other clinical end-users, drive the development of clinical specifications and determine ‘like’ products which are clinically acceptable. The Procurement Partnership Board, representative of procurement and supply chain experts works with HealthTrust Europe to set the commercial requirements and provides commitment necessary to negotiate the lowest costs.

The courage, commitment and partnership approach that our members have demonstrated has led to significant developments in a short period of time, enabling fifteen independent healthcare providers to work together and deliver greater results for the good of the group rather than on an individual basis.

To date, we have launched five GPO contracts, all of which have delivered double-digit savings opportunities for our members. These include Disposable Gowns, Renal Consumables, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Consumables, CSSD Consumables and Anaesthetic & Oxygen Consumables. The group average across the contracts is between 10-49% discount off previous year spend.

Globally, HealthTrust serves approximately 1,600 acute care facilities and members in more than 26,000 other locations, and leverages $30B of spend to negotiate cost saving opportunities and best terms for its members.

Interested in accessing the industry’s best prices? Contact our Customer Care team to discuss GPO membership on 0845 887 5000 or email customercare@htepg.com

Latest rules for agency staff procurement

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Requirement to use approved frameworks for all agency staff procurement

From 1st April 2016, all trusts subject to the agency rules have been mandated by NHS Improvement (formerly Monitor/TDA) to procure all agency staff including nurses, doctors and other clinical staff via an approved framework provider.

Further information on the agency rules and price caps can be found here

HealthTrust Europe is an NHS Improvement approved framework provider and we are supporting trusts nationwide to procure their agency staff at the best possible rates in line with the price caps via a compliant route.

In situations where it is necessary to break glass on the grounds of patient safety, it is important that trusts do not move off framework to source agency workers. We have seen multiple examples of this costing trusts substantially more than staying on framework. In these instances we will work with you to ensure on framework delivery of agency staff at the best possible rates in line with the price caps.

HealthTrust Europe supported its customers in reducing above cap transactions by 7% in the month of March.

Our “Top Caps” league tables are now available to support our members in the procurement of agency staff. League tables are trust-specific and data-driven, providing you with a quick and easy method to select agencies that have demonstrated adherence to caps in specific band and grade options both regionally and by trust.

For assistance in eradicating your off framework spend and ensuring NHS Improvement compliance, please don’t hesitate to contact the dedicated agency team on 0845 8874 979 or by email at agency@htepg.com

 

HTE Supports SAFERjobs Initiative

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The joint Metropolitan Police and Recruitment Industry Counter-Fraud organisation, known as SAFERjobs, (Safe Advice for Employment and Recruitment) is a non-profit making organisation created to raise awareness and combat criminal activities that may be attempted on those within the industry or through the services provided by the industry.

HealthTrust Europe (HTE) is committed to combatting fraud and bad practice. We have been working closely with the SAFERjobs team to enhance the support we provide to agencies and Trusts within the NHS market place.

HTE supports the approach to create a centralised gateway, for the reporting of serious incidents that affect our customer base and allows for investigation by the appropriate body.

We are working to develop awareness of the initiative with our awarded suppliers to ensure that we are at the forefront of providing robust, high-quality services to our customers. Alignment to such valuable initiatives demonstrates our commitment to leading the way in providing Agency Staffing procurement to the NHS and our wider customer base.

”SAFERjobs, as the home of job seeker safety, is determined to ensure job searching is safe for both job seekers and employers alike. By working with innovative, trustworthy organisations such as HTE, we believe the NHS and recruitment agencies will reduce the cost of fraud, improve the reputation of the recruitment industry, and keep the public safe in their job search.” Keith Rosser, Chair – SAFERjobs 

A list of partners that work with the SAFERjobs initiative can be found here.

HTE Launches TrainingSmart in Partnership with Neuven Solutions

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The TrainingSmart programme has been developed to provide the healthcare recruitment industry with a robust, high-quality training service. This initiative aims to provide both awarded and aspiring agencies with the tools for best practice, continuous improvement and staff development opportunities. This will enable customers to be confident that agencies can demonstrate high standards in compliance, ethical recruitment, and organisational integrity. 

 “The launch of these services demonstrates our commitment to leading the way in providing Agency Staffing procurement to the NHS and our wider customer base. We aim to utilise the services to support industry standards and to complement our independent audit services in providing a pro-active mechanism for raising the bar in quality.” Gary Snart, Agency Staffing Category Manager at HTE

HealthTrust Europe (HTE) has a long-standing relationship with Neuven Solutions, its independent auditor, and views this initiative as a platform to enhance its Agency Staffing offering and support NHS Trusts in a difficult and changing market place.

“Neuven Solutions Ltd (NSL) are delighted to partner with Health Trust Europe (HTE) to offer a range of services designed to ensure that the procurers of temporary staffing labour are protected by receiving the highest standard of agency staff.

Throughout our long and successful partnership with HTE, we have been delighted to support their commitment to compliance and continuous improvement and we are confident that these products will continue to increase standards across the board.” John Simmonds Chief Executive, Neuven Solutions Ltd.

For further information, please contact our Helpdesk on 0845 887 5000 or email helpdesk@healthtrusteurope.com

Monitor Approved Agency Staffing Frameworks

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In line with the agency rules for the procurement of agency staff, Monitor and the NHS Trust Development Authority (TDA) have now published a list of approved frameworks. The latest communication from Monitor can be viewed here.

In line with the agency rules for the procurement of agency staff, Monitor and the NHS Trust Development Authority (TDA) have now published a list of approved frameworks. The latest communication from Monitor can be viewed here.

Trusts subject to the agency rules are required to procure all agency staff via an approved framework from this list from 1st April 2016.

HealthTrust Europe (HTE) is pleased to announce that we have gained approval from Monitor and the TDA for our frameworks listed below:

  • Medical Locums and Locum GPs
  • Nursing and Care Services
  • Allied Health Professionals (AHP/HSS)

Further framework information including a list of awarded suppliers can be found in the framework briefs accessed via our Corporate Portfolio page.

HTE is developing an enhanced Total Workforce Solutions framework which will fully incorporate all agency worker groups including an NMNC offering and extended scope for executive resourcing. This new framework is being designed to facilitate your short, medium and long-term resourcing strategies and will be available to access no later than 1st November 2016.

Should you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact the dedicated agency team on 0845 8874 979 or by email at agency@htepg.com

Clinical Involvement Drives Improved Patient Outcome and Purchasing Value for Liverpool Women’s Hospital

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HealthTrust Europe (HTE) has supported Liverpool Women’s Hospital (LWH), one of its long-standing members, to achieve clinical benefits in the area of laparoscopic surgical procedures, as well as significant price discounts through the use of a single device across the majority of Laparoscopic surgical cases.

Theatres at the hospital, previously used three different electro surgical devices when carrying out laparoscopic surgical procedures, which incurred a total annual spend of £131k. The surgical team at LWH working with HTE explored the opportunity to standardise to a single device in order to increase productivity through quicker set up times, and reduce clinical risk through better training of one device.

Applied Medical and a multidisciplinary team from HTE worked with LWH to assess the clinical benefits and identify price discounts that could be achieved. In March last year, LWH became the first NHS trust in the country to clinically trial the latest VoyantTM fusion device. The clinicians were involved from inception, having the opportunity to receive product demonstrations and one-to-one discussions with the supplier’s educational representatives, and join discussions with the procurement team.

Both surgeons and nursing staff were involved in the evaluation process which resulted in the new product demonstrating direct contributions to improved patient outcomes. Key metrics in the clinical report showed visibility during tissue sealing and sealing performance was superior.

Following the success of the clinical trial, LWH proceeded with the full implementation of the VoyantTM fusion device. In addition to the clinical benefits, the implementation of the Voyant device has resulted in a 40% price discount which will drive significant savings to the theatre budget.

LWH have also received the Innovation Award for the Voyant project at the 2015 North West Excellence in Supply Awards and have been shortlisted for the National GO Awards.

 “Clinical engagement has been a real factor in the success of this procurement process, enabling the use of innovative products and driving long term acceptance. This project has also provided the very best example of how successful collaboration can deliver greater efficiency and improved patient outcomes.” Liam Reynolds, Head of Procurement at Liverpool Women`s NHS Foundation Trust

HTE has since worked with a number of other trusts to identify price discounts on their current spend. If you would like some advice from our category specialist please contact our Helpdesk on 0845 887 5000 or email customercare@htepg.com

Renewed Blood and Specimen Collection Systems Framework Available

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The renewed framework offers a complete range of blood and specimen collection systems and accessories covering faeces, urine, saliva, sputum and other bodily fluids or specimens, all within one simple-to-access agreement.

The direct award framework includes an enhanced product range across market-leading suppliers, which includes, but is not limited to, needles, lancets, tubes, trays and dishes, caps, tourniquets, luer adapters and transfer devices.

The framework allows Trusts to unlock several levels of discount through consortia and commitment based models. Determining the appropriate banded price is a quick and simple process allowing the Trust access to the framework agreement without the need for further mini-competitions or protracted supplier discussions

Each of the appointed suppliers has been rigorously vetted in terms of their quality and value propositions through a robust, compliant evaluation process.

Using the logistics option to purchase goods eliminates the need to store large quantities of product on site. It also allows for next day delivery directly to the point of requisition.

For further information, please visit our Pathology page to download the framework brief.

Alternatively contact our Helpdesk on 0845 887 5000 or email customercare@htepg.com

Renewed X-Ray Contrast Media Framework Offers Superior Product Range

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The HealthTrust Europe (HTE) renewed framework agreement for X-Ray Contrast Media and Associated Products has been enhanced to cover all types of contrast media, as well as Injectors and accessories. The Category Manager engaged with local Radiographers to develop a specification aligned with Trust requirements and clinical needs.

The HealthTrust Europe (HTE) renewed framework agreement for X-Ray Contrast Media and Associated Products has been enhanced to cover all types of contrast media, as well as Injectors and accessories. The Category Manager engaged with local Radiographers to develop a specification aligned with Trust requirements and clinical needs.

The direct award framework has five key market-leading suppliers that provide a comprehensive range of products. These include:

  • Bayer
  • Bracco
  • GE Healthcare
  • Guerbet Laboratories LTD
  • Mallinckrodt UK Commercial Limited

Each of the vetted suppliers appointed to the framework agreement has tendered fixed prices, with discounts available depending on the volume of the contract. All prices are fixed for life of the contract.

The suppliers will fully support any training requirements as well as auditing current usage with the view to rationalising spends down to two suppliers.

For further information, please visit our Pharmacy Portfolio page to download the framework brief.

Alternatively contact our Customer Care Team on 0845 887 5000 or email customercare@htepg.com