January 26, 2016 Industry news
The sites will demonstrate the benefits of GS1 and PEPPOL standards
The six NHS Acute Trusts in England that were announced by Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health will act as demonstrator sites of excellence for the use of GS1 and PEPPOL standards. The six sites that will receive further support and a share of £12m funding already committed by the Department of Health are:
- Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
- Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
- Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
- Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
Each one of these sites will need to demonstrate the benefits, as well as challenges, they encounter from using the standards. These will include significant efficiencies and cost savings, reduced errors and improved patient outcomes and patient safety. The Government announced that with this activity the implementation of electronic procurement systems will help deliver up to £800 million in efficiency savings. The supply chains for hospitals will be made simpler, helping to reduce the estimated £150m the NHS wastes each year on products which have been either oversupplied or perished.
Tony Whitfield, Director of Finance at The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are thrilled at the opportunities provided by being selected as a GS1 demonstrator site of excellence by the Department of Health. The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is fully committed to the implementation of GS1 and PEPPOL standards in order to further drive patient safety and increase efficiency. Being selected offers us the chance to harness the potential of GS1 standards for patients and the taxpayer and support the Trust in developing best practice for procurement. We look forward to the next stage and to demonstrate the benefits that these standards bring to the healthcare industry.”
Ann James, Chief Executive of Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as one of only six sites of excellence to be at the forefront of rolling out these new, national standards. Our selection comes as a result of a lot of hard work and commitment to this partnership from our staff. We look forward to the challenges and improvements this will bring.”
Glen Hodgson, Head of Healthcare at GS1 UK said: “We’d like to congratulate the six demonstrator sites for their commitment in driving forward the adoption of GS1 and PEPPOL standards everywhere along the patient pathway. We look forward to keep working closely with the chosen sites to greatly improve the quality and safety of care.”