Supplier Representatives Policy, Product Trials and Clinical Innovation
Within the Procurement Team the Trust has a Clinical Procurement Specialist Nurse (Commodity Advisor) acting as the interface between end users and the Commercial activities of the Trust.
Supplier Representatives Policy
The Clinical Procurement Specialist Nurse contributes to the protection of patients and staff by coordinating the activity of supplier representatives in regard to product trials, together with the purchase of equipment and consumables.
This role is clearly reflected in the Trust's Policy for meeting with representatives.
Product Trials
The Clinical Procurement Specialist Nurse role aims to manage product trials, actively trialling clinical and non-clinical products and associated equipment with relevant staff.
In order to efficiently coordinate product trials and promote the adoption of new ideas / products potential trials are initiated by the completion of a Trial request Procedure.
This process looks at potential usages / spend / and areas affected enabling the Trust to only trial products should they offer savings, standardisation or an improvement in patient care through innovation.
The Clinical Procurement Specialist Nurse also advises on a wide range of aspects of clinical products promoting standardisation of appropriate products whilst contributing to both National and Trust Procurement Savings Targets.
Clinical Innovation
Innovation is a key component of the Procurement Team's activities. This is not just about maximising cost efficiencies, but also to identify cost effective products that improve the patient care experience and promote improved safety for staff and patient alike.
The inclusion of the Clinical Procurement Specialist Nurse role within the Procurement Team means that the Procurement Department is informed and up to date in regard to the current clinical commodity market place.
The Countess Clinical Procurement Specialist Nurse is currently associated with the following external groups.
National Network of Clinical Procurement Specialists Nurses (CPSN)
This network consists of some 100+ members of like minded Clinical Procurement Specialist Clinicians (including Scotland and Wales) and is an ideal vehicle to gather an up to date topical knowledge of marketplace activity, product efficacy and standardisation opportunities. The network has E-mail discussion and a lively forum on the well utilised FutureNHS platform The network meets 3 times per year and regularly have key note speakers from high profile organisations such as the Dept of Health, MHRA, NPSA, NICE and SMTL. The Countess Clinical Procurement Specialist Nurse is currently chair of the CPSN Network.
NHS Supply Chain Task Forces and Clinical Product Support Groups
The Trust's Clinical Procurement Specialist Nurse regularly contributes in a clinical advisory capacity with product selection groups with this major NHS supplier.
Product Trials, Clinical Innovation and Supplier Representatives Contact Information:
Commodity Advisors- (Clinical Procurement Specialist Nurses) - coch.clinicalprocurementspecialistnurse@nhs.net - 01244 366 169
Or write to us at
Procurement Team, Moston Lodge, Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, CH2 1UL.