Collaborative Strategic Sourcing
There are certain types of goods and services that we currently procure on behalf of the NHS organisations signed up as members of the NWCCA. Details of these can be found via the links on the left.
The CCA has a small team of procurement specialist that are split across the following main areas of spend: Clinical; Business Services; Office and IT; Estates & Facilties; and Pharmaceuticals.
For each category of product or service we have a category team and manager. They work with and across all our member organisations to share current and future information on spending and supplier suitability, so that specifications can be agreed on a region-wide basis.
Office and IT
Pharmacy
Clinical
Business Services
Estates & Facilities
Ambulance
Information technology and robust office systems drive the function of all NHS organisations and, as such, a large proportion of spending is in this area.
Our IT and Office category team oversees on behalf of members the procurement of IT and telecommunications equipment, postal services, print and document services amongst other items. To ensure best value for money and that patients ultimately benefit from its efforts the team works in collaboration with other procurement organisations working in the NHS. The team is proud to have delivered over £10m savings to members in the past four years.
The category has led the way in collaborating with other Hubs. Among current projects is patient reminder technology which helps the NHS ensure that people do not forget to attend scheduled appointments. A six-Hub collaboration on client devices - IT hardware such as desktop PCs, laptops etc. - which involves over 220 Trusts is also underway.
Underpinning all its activity is a commitment to stakeholder engagement to shape strategy, delivery of contracts and mutually successful outcomes.
A dedicated team of procurement specialists has secured more than £23m worth of savings in the past three years on pharmaceuticals and related products and services to enhance patient care and ensure members receive best value for money.
In this field, we have led projects ranging in size from those covering multiple trusts across the North West, to bespoke projects for individual or small groups of trusts that provide either primary care, secondary care or mental health services.
The Clinical Category team works in a specialised area which deals with a vast range of product areas from examination gloves, to pathology consumables, to orthopaedic implants.
The team consists of Procurement Specialists and Clinical Advisors, who are qualified Nurses, to aid the end user in making procurement decisions. The dialogue between clinicians and Clinical Advisors in projects is essential in ensuring a planned and integrated approached. By involving clinicians directly, we can contribute to the delivery of the best clinical outcomes as well as ensuring value for money.
The NWCCA utilises Clinical Stakeholder Meetings, Road Shows and Study Days within the procurement process; these communication channels guarantee that patient pathways and clinical outcomes are considered prior to presenting business cases to Senior Trust Managers, which in turn allows them to make an informed decision.
The Clinical Category Team works with stakeholders and suppliers to provide:
• Cash releasing savings
• Capped pricing
• Standardisation of products
• Rationalisation of products
• Innovation
• Sustainability improvements
• Improved supply chain
• Improved lead times
• Integrated partnerships between Acute Trusts and PCTs
The Business Services team provides a highly-specialised sourcing service to Trusts throughout the North West. It concentrates on putting together savings-releasing framework agreements which also contribute to efficiencies.
Services covered by the team include Agency and Clinical staff, Administration and Clerical Staff, Medical Staff, Venue and Conference bookings, Travel Management, VAT, Agency Nursing, Training and Education and Management Consultancy.
Estates & Facilities
Covering the provision of services such as lease management, maintenance contracts and security to that of laundry and linen. One particular success in this category is the newly negoitated legal services framework which has radically reformed the way legal advice and guidance is provided to our member Trusts. This framework will go some way to ensuring NWCCA members receive the quality and scope of legal support they need ast a reduced cost by unsing the influence of economies of scale to obtain best value for money.
We provide a dedicated national strategic sourcing service to ambulance services in England.
In managing a centralised national supply service, our aim is to deliver value for money, procurement of specific items including vehicles and equipment, fuel, maintenance, uniforms, IT and telecommunication equipment.
We also work in close partnership with ambulance services to develop work plans, draft specifications and terms and conditions.
A secure online working group forum for heads of procurement in ambulance services is also available.
Visit the Ambulance Procurement Forum