June 02, 2015 Industry news
A view from Nicola Hall, Managing Director at Ingenica Solutions.
This month marks one year since the Department of Health’s eProcurement Strategy came into place. Nicola Hall, Managing Director at Ingenica Solutions, which provides the first GS1 UK Certified Solution in inventory management for healthcare, takes a closer look. She explains the progress trusts have made during this time, the successes and some of the challenges faced.
The eProcurement Strategy came into place 12 months ago, and with just one month to go until Trusts hit the deadline of needing a GS1 strategy in place, adoption has been mixed. While successes are evident and a number of Trusts have made substantial progress, others still need guidance.
At the end of last year guidance was issued to Trusts. This documentation focussed on the background to the programme, the role of GS1 standards, and how to build an implementation plan. The Department of Health has also committed to delivering business case and inventory management recommendations.
For Trust-wide adoption to happen we need to work with the clinical teams. These individuals play a key role in the future of the strategy; after all it is a change management project that requires input from all areas. Therefore, the ability to engage with these groups is vital for success and it is clear, that the GS1 message has not yet filtered through to everyone one the front line.
The pressures on Trusts in the last quarter of the financial year means they have been pre-occupied with finances, and are only now focusing on the GS1 requirements.
Some Trusts are particularly advanced; they know where they need to be and how to get there, and have appointed a GS1 lead to manage the process. The general consensus is those Trusts that are leading the way, have always been advanced in this arena. But other Trusts have some ground to cover.
Trusts must submit a board-approved GS1 standards adoption plan to the Department of Health by 30 June, so it’s very much a reality for trusts now.The eProcurement strategy should be seen as grounding for fundamental change and evolution rather than tick box exercise. Increasingly Trusts are turning to GS1 UK partners, such as Ingenica Solutions, for advice and comment on their plans, and undoubtedly they will turn to other solution providers too, for a better understanding of exactly what they need to do.
Trusts should also make sure they are making the best use of resources available to them such as the GS1 team of healthcare experts, and Department of Health guidance. Regional GS1 meetings may also prove beneficial, and trusts must remember that if the resources provided are not suitable for their particular situation, ensure that GS1 and Department of Health teams are aware.
The eProcurement strategy paves the way for future changes in the sector and for Trusts to become world class in supply chain and procurement operations, so now is the time to avoid making short-term decisions, and instead ensure decisions are insightful and made to invest in the future.
Footnote: Ingenica Solutions has the first GS1 UK Certified Solution in inventory management. For further information visit www.ingenicasolutions.com, email info@ingenicasolutions.com , of follow on Twitter @IngenicaS.