New Wing at NHS Trust: Sharing our Expertise
The NHS Supply Chain: Facilities and Office Solutions team is currently assisting an NHS Trust in the South East with outfitting a new wing for their hospital. The Trust required a new wing to allow patients to undergo diagnostic tests without having to visit the main hospital, helping to increase service provision within the community. The project is a collaborative effort between the Trust’s category leads, NHS Supply Chain Integrated Care System Managers (ICSM), NHS Supply Chain’s Medical and Office Furniture teams, the Implementation and Adoption Specialist Lead and the MTS Project Management Team, alongside regional stakeholders.
Project Process
The project began with initial discussions between the Facilities and Office Solutions team and the Trust’s category leads. Working together, the team reviewed the product list and determined which items fell under the NHS Supply Chain or Capital categories. The next step was generating quotes and bids, which involved the Trust contacting suppliers directly or the Facilities and Office Solutions team helping them by submitting a Statement of Requirements (SOR) to suppliers on their behalf.
The Facilities and Office Solution guided the Trust through the Unit Requisition Number (URN) process for medical furniture, explaining the difference between URNs for medical items and reference numbers for office furniture. The team also supported the procurement of catering, cleaning, and decontamination equipment, ensuring compliance with the URN process.
This support helped the Trust better manage and differentiate between medical and office furniture, improving identification in their finance systems and simplifying the procurement process.
Impact on the Trust
The new wing has been designed to function as a “one-stop-shop” for diagnostic testing, enabling patients to undergo testing without needing to visit the main hospital. This model not only improves patient care but alleviates pressure on the main hospital, allowing resources to be better distributed.
Equipped with a wide range of diagnostic testing tools, the wing is essential in streamlining patient flow and ensuring efficient use of healthcare resources. The wide range of tools available plays a crucial role in meeting the needs of patients and medical staff.
Key Takeaways
A major takeaway from this project was the importance of effective time management and communication between teams. With multiple redevelopment projects happening concurrently, coordinating efforts to prevent overlap and avoid duplication became critical to the success of this project. Clear communication ensured that the deadline was met, and resources were allocated efficiently.
Jon Smith, Implementation and Adoption Specialist, said:
“This has been a rewarding exercise, where we’ve been able to use our knowledge and expertise to provide the Trust with the best solutions for their new wing. By understanding the Trust’s needs early on and building a strong relationship, we created open communication. Making it easier to work together and ensure the project’s success.”
Future Projects
The team is applying the lessons learned from earlier projects, such as the work on a new NHS hospital in the Midlands. The facility, which has already opened to the public, is a vital part of the region’s ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare provision.
Whether you are looking to refurbish existing facilities or are in the process of building new ones, our team can support you with a variety of requirements. From paper hygiene dispensers to batteries, lighting, and tools, or even disposable cubicle curtains, we can support you in a range of areas. Find out more by visiting the NHS Supply Chain website.
Alternatively, if you have a question about how we can better support your trust’s needs contact us today at FacilitiesandOfficesolutionssupport@supplychain.nhs.uk. Our Implementation and Adoption (I&A) team is on hand to guide you through the process.
Experiences Gained
Managing the procurement process and ensuring compliance with regulations played an important role in the success of this project. While purchasing furniture was a key component of the outfitting, the knowledge and expertise we brought to the process helped provide valuable solutions. Our focus wasn’t just on acquiring furniture, but on supporting the Trust in finding the most suitable options.
With many aspects to consider, we aimed to offer the Trust reassurance that the project was in capable hands. This is what allows us to contribute effectively to projects like this: we bring experience, continue to learn, and apply those insights to each new project. Our team is dedicated to delivering positive outcomes for healthcare facilities, using past experiences to inform future work.