Inventory management national framework award for Healthlogistics

Healthlogistics.co.uk has announced its selection onto the National Framework Agreement as an approved supplier of inventory management software package solutions to the NHS.

The framework process, led by NHS South of England Procurement Services, formerly Solent Supplies Team, establishes Healthlogistics as a lead contractor for integrated inventory management software services, incorporating a web-based catalogue and contract management system to drive an effective stock take, inventory control and product replenishment function for NHS trusts.

For this Framework Service, Healthlogistics has partnered with two leading suppliers of tracking and inventory management systems, hTrak Europe and Assistive Partner, in order to provide a comprehensive cataloguing, contract management and purchasing framework that ensures accurate, current, valid and consistent data throughout the integrated solution. The combined solution is fully capable of patient level materials costing by procedure and consultant. All of this is brought together within the Healthlogistics eControl reporting framework.

Central to the inventory management solution is the visibility of volume, value and location information of stock held within a trust, which enables it to pro-actively realise savings through accurate stock valuation, elimination of obsolete stock, reduction in consignment stock and a robust auto-replenishment process.

This is achieved through a combination of the hTrak point-of-care system and Assistive Partner UNIQUS Inventory Management functionality for managing stockholding and movements, with Healthlogistics’ capability to value inventory at the correct level of cost, based on accurate contract price or average cost information. In addition, the theatre point-of-care data from hTrak combined with UNIQUS results in visibility of the full transactional life cycle of the stock that can be traced through the hospital and to the patient.

Productivity gains are also achieved through data consistency and flow of information across purchasing, stock and material management systems – as there will be reductions in time spent locating and re-ordering stock, and in back office supplier queries.

Commenting on the award, Peter Elwin, director of Healthlogistics: “On behalf of our specialist inventory management solution partners, we are pleased that our completely integrated, web-based solution is now approved for use in any NHS trust. We see that it is vital for trusts to be able to manage and track the full transactional life cycle of their stock from goods receipt through to patient.’