The Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust recognised that its Purchase to Pay (P2P) processes were operating inefficiently — negatively affecting the patient journey.
P2P encompasses many areas including master data and inventory management. But because it relies on so many factors, it’s easy for something to go wrong. Inaccurate orders, manual interventions, and a lack of traceability and visibility can all keep the P2P process from working effectively.
With this lack of effectiveness comes financial and, crucially, patient safety compromises. These were compromises that the Trust were no longer prepared to tolerate.
The team had to analyse, review, and stress-test its existing processes surrounding P2P. This highlighted areas where improvements could be made.
Following this, barcoding was introduced based on GS1 standards. The system focused on the management of locations, products, and master data. By concentrating on these areas, the Trust was able to build a solid foundation on which to expand.
The team also recognised that the use of barcodes increased the efficiency of the P2P process – but only if it’s implemented with all factors in mind: people, process and technology. As such, comprehensive staff training and development was rolled out.
Since the implementation of the new system, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust has seen improvements in the efficiency of P2P processes. These improvements include reduced manual intervention and more successful supplier relationships.
The new processes now also record more accurate master data, which increases visibility and enhances spend analytics. GS1 standards allow the trust to track and trace items both in the supply chain and in the hospital, resulting in clinical time being returned to patient care.
In short, the new system has decreased costs, while improving patient safety.
If you would like to submit a case study demonstrating how your trust has implemented GS1 standards, email us at healthcare.casestudies@gs1uk.org