HCSA Winter Conference 2024: Managing change and building for the future
The Healthcare Supply Association (HCSA) Annual Conference is an important platform for advancing procurement practices within the NHS. As a corporate sponsor, Acacium Group attended the 2024 conference to connect with and learn from procurement professionals.
Committed to a collaborative approach with our NHS partners, we’re working to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the health and social care supply chains we operate in. Here are some of our key takeaways from the conference.
Fostering public-private collaboration
As a trusted partner to the NHS for more than 40 years, we were delighted to see a significant focus on greater collaboration between the public and private sectors. Chief Commercial Officer at the Department of Health and Social Care, Stuart Nelson, emphasised the mutual benefits of such partnerships. He highlighted the importance of education and understanding between sectors to leverage each other’s strengths.
This approach and sentiment were also mirrored in a lively and engaging session by Savita Mace, Chief Procurement Officer at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. Drawing from her extensive private sector experience, Savita shared how she has effectively bridged the gap between private and public sector procurement practices. Her insights into the differences in language, decision-making and culture have been instrumental in fostering collaboration and enhancing procurement efficiency within the NHS.
Leveraging data and strengthening supplier relationships
As part of his session, Stuart Nelson emphasised the value of focusing on data insights to understand organisational capabilities – crucial for building stronger supplier relationships. Our collaboration with all 42 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and the health boards of Scotland and Wales has provided us with firsthand experience in this area. Through our Viewpoint experience management programme, we have supported NHS organisations in enhancing patient care and identifying opportunities for greater operational efficiency by collecting worker experience feedback at scale. Read the findings in our latest white paper.
Enhancing contract management practices, including setting clear key performance indicators and service level agreements, were also seen as vital for ensuring value and performance.
Enhancing procurement processes through data-driven strategies and financial analysis
The advancement of procurement processes within the NHS are utilising more and more data-driven strategies and comprehensive financial analysis. The Cheshire and Merseyside procurements team’s “efficiency at scale” programme exemplified this approach by simplifying and harmonising procurement across 17 systems, achieving significant efficiencies. This reflects a shift from traditional cost-cutting to enhancing quality, productivity and clinical outcomes through smarter procurement practices.
Speakers advocated for:
- Utilising data analysis to strengthen contract and supplier relationship management.
- Enhancing assurance and compliance with procurement regulations.
- Standardising, automating and scaling procurement activities.
Market analysis and financial modelling were also identified as critical components of effective procurement. Speakers stressed the necessity for procurement teams to conduct comprehensive market research, especially when considering direct awards. Instances where procurement appeals were upheld due to inadequate market analysis underscored this need. Financial modelling was also emphasised to present value-based procurement opportunities, considering not just cost savings but also improvements in clinical outcomes and productivity.
Did you attend the conference?
Having reflected on the insights from the HCSA Conference 2024, we remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting collaboration and data-driven strategies to advance NHS procurement practices. Connect with our team to discuss how we can work together to build a more resilient and efficient healthcare supply chain.
