Home Oxygen Services contract shortlisted for major procurement award
Yorkshire and the Humber Home Oxygen Services contract has been shortlisted for the 2011 Health Business Hospital Procurement Award.
The award recognises the NHS Trust that has delivered value for money and increased efficiency through smarter procurement practice.
The Home Oxygen Services contract will offer Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) across Yorkshire and the Humber up to 50% in savings when it goes live on 1 May 2012. In addition to harnessing the buying power of the region’s Trusts, the new contract will also improve home oxygen services by offering a local service, wider choice of equipment and continuous assessment and review of patients in order to better manage their conditions.
Kath Bretton, Purchased Healthcare Specialist at NHS CPC, worked with NHS Leeds on the bespoke project: “We are delighted that this contract has been shortlisted for a Hospital Procurement Award, recognising the effective collaboration between trusts for improved service and valuable savings.”
The Health Business Awards ceremony takes place at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium on Thursday December 8th. They will be presented by BBC presenter Juliet Morris, with NHS Trusts and Authorities from all over the UK present.
NHS CPC won this same category in 2010 with an innovative clinical waste contract. Described by one of the region’s supplies managers as ‘the jewel in NHS CPC’s crown’, the clinical waste contract is one of the biggest in the country and brings valuable opportunities to the region and significant cost savings to the participating Trusts.
The Home Oxygen Services contract
Home oxygen services are currently provided under contracts managed by the Department of Health. As these contracts expire, each Strategic Health Authority (SHA) has a responsibility to procure home oxygen services for their region.
The Home Oxygen Services contract offers considerable savings and a variety of benefits:
- As PCTs will be managing home oxygen services in their own area, this means a closer focus on quality of care to ensure services are more joined up and respond quickly to any issues or improvements that need to be made.
- Patients will have their needs assessed and reviewed on a regular basis. Each PCT area will ensure it has a service in place for assessing those who have been prescribed long-term oxygen therapy. This will ensure patients receive the right level of home oxygen for their needs and will be reviewed regularly so changes can be made where necessary.
- With national figures showing that up to 24–43% of patients currently receiving home oxygen derive no clinical benefit from it, the assessment and review system will also reduce unnecessary oxygen deliveries.
For more information about NHS CPC bespoke procurement services please contact Kath Bretton on 0114 226 4590 or email kath.bretton@yhcpc.nhs.uk.
Read more about the Home Oxygen Services contract.
