Trauma savings 2.5 times up on predictions after just 3 months

Trauma framework savings are averaging 25% with six trusts saving £1.3m after just three months.

Proactive procurement and clinical engagement has seen savings from the Trauma Orthopaedic and Maxillofacial Implants, Accessories and Associated Consumables framework (which went live in October 2013) average more than 25 per cent for participating trusts compared with original predictions of a 10 per cent average.

Open to NHS London Procurement Partnership members (and not limited to the London geographic area), the framework is a means of rationalising pricing for member trusts and provides a legally compliant route to market.

Six member trusts have now signed access agreements under the framework. The total combined annual savings for these six trusts is £1.3 million, an average saving of 25.3 per cent.

Savings analysis is currently underway for a further eight trusts. Each one is at a different stage of the process - savings of more than 30 per cent have been identified for one trust alone. Other member trusts currently committed under existing contracts will be able to join the framework once those contracts expire, and LPP will be working with them to ensure they get the maximum benefit available.

LPP Senior Category Manager, Beth Watkins, explains that “To get such a rapid level of participation by trusts, we have been proactively working with local procurement teams and clinicians to assess the benefits available to their trusts, and ensured that contract awards are completed with the backing of appropriate clinical departments. Where a change of supplier has occurred, we have acted as the point of contact for both the trust, including the procurement teams and clinicians, and the supplier.

“Getting such an impressive uplift on predicted savings clearly demonstrates how vital collaborative procurement with clinical engagement is to supporting the NHS to cut costs without compromising on quality.”