This article, written by NHS Supply Chain, explores how standardising inventory management and point-of-care scanning across NHS trusts is improving patient safety, enhancing supply chain resilience, and delivering significant cost savings
Background
With over £1 billion of shelf stock across the NHS in England, standardising inventory management capability and point-of-care solutions is a key way to release significant cost benefits to trusts while at the same time delivering benefits for patients.
In-trust inventory management has been identified as one of the biggest areas of opportunity for NHS Supply Chain to have a positive impact.
NHS Supply Chain manages the sourcing, delivery, and supply of healthcare products, services, and food for NHS trusts and healthcare organisations across England and Wales, processing more than 8 million orders per year, across over 129,000 order points, over 16,000 locations and consolidating orders from over 1100 suppliers.
NHS Supply Chain established their Inventory Management and Point of Care Scanning programme in line with the priorities set out by NHS England in their Operational Planning Guidance for 2023/24, NHS Supply Chain Head of Inventory Management Solutions, Mark Vallentine, said “Unlocking savings, improving patient care, and creating greater supply chain resilience has always been at the heart of our offering to the NHS,”
“By implementing inventory management and point of care scanning we can help NHS trusts to improve patient safety by scanning the product to the patient in real time and capturing the data about the product electronically, making it far more efficient to trace the patient in the case of a product recall.”
As part of a national programme managed by NHS Supply Chain, advanced IMS and Point of Care Scanning (PoC) solutions are being deployed to NHS trusts. These innovations enhance patient safety and deliver significant productivity improvements by reducing the time spent on administrative tasks, ultimately supporting better patient care and driving operational excellence.
The programme, managed nationally by NHS Supply Chain and funded by NHS England, is designed to improve patient care, and streamline operations in NHS trusts. The programme aims to deliver: cash-releasing savings; visibility of end-to-end supply chain data; scalability and a standardised turnkey deployment approach; enhanced patient safety and experience; and increased clinical productivity through reduced administrative tasks.
The scope of the programme can be segmented into four key components.
1. The system and module: this includes inventory management, Point of Care scanning and analytics functionality. The programme will focus on supporting trusts obtain visibility of high-value medical devices (Class III and IIb) up to 75 per cent by value.
2. Implementation delivery support: a small team of NHS Supply Chain colleagues will be deployed to provide technical and delivery expertise to trusts.
3. Licensing and hardware: licencing and hardware will be funded for the trust for the initial period.
4. Maintenance and support: ongoing programme support and training will be provided via NHS Supply
Chain’s team, as well as technical support via the system provider.
The programme is delivered by NHS Supply Chain’s In Hospital Services team which is comprised of a specialist deployment team, supported by subject matter experts in benefits realisation and change management, data standards and IT integration, and relies on robust project management.
The programme enables NHS Supply Chain to leverage a system-wide view to optimise visibility on national stock demand and consumption to improve supply chain resilience, while supporting upstream
supplier stock management and demand planning. It also facilitates national initiatives such as Scan4Safety and GS1 standards adoption.
NHS Supply Chain Strategy executive director, Sara Ford said: “The rollout will bring supply chain and trust efficiency opportunities, as well as enabling significant patient safety benefits. By scanning once, uniting data on product, patient, clinician and location, we can bring both short term cash releasing savings, as well as longer term improvements in supply chain resilience and capture key information required by medical device outcome registries.”
Progress
As of January 2025, NHS Supply Chain has successfully implemented a digital inventory management system (IMS) across six NHS trusts, tackling challenges such as inaccurate stock tracking, inefficiencies, and resource wastage. By improving inventory accuracy, reducing costs, and streamlining operations, the system has delivered early measurable benefits and created a clear roadmap for wider rollout.
The programme has been implemented through strong collaboration, creating a solid foundation for continuous improvement and nationwide scalability. This teamwork highlights a shared commitment to improving patient outcomes and driving innovation.
The following trusts are now live, with implementations initially focused on specific hospital areas and potential for expansion: Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust; The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust; and West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.
Trust feedback
Louise Brereton, head of procurement and logistics, Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “At Dorset County Hospital, we are delighted to be part of the NHS Supply Chain IMS programme and working with Ingenica to implement i360. The system itself has been well received by our clinical teams and by our own team of Inventory Controllers.”
Simon Peck, team leader for vascular, The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust commented: “So far, the project has already made some really good changes to our theatre consumable cupboard, it already looks so much neater and easier to identify where our products are. It has highlighted to us just how much excess stock we have and we are hoping the next stage of the project helps to condense our low turnover stock, and allow more room for our high turnover stock.”
Debbie Stevenson, head of procurement, West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust added: “The NHS Supply Chain team on the ground supported the trust team to a high level with stocktakes, templates, engagement, training and support and were an invaluable resource.”
What’s next?
The IMS deployment journey continues, with more trusts set to go live throughout 2025. The team remain committed to supporting trusts by working closely with local teams to understand their unique requirements and provide tailored solutions.
NHS Supply Chain will be updating regularly on their website about the progress and positive changes IMS and PoC are bringing to NHS trusts nationwide.