Four members from NHS procurement teams based in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw were recognised for individual performance directly supporting our regions’ NHS organisations during the first-wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was recognised across a number of areas; Rachel Gatiss won Highly Commended for the Emerging Talent and Development Award; Louise Verity was awarded the Unsung Heroes Award and Andrea Smith was awarded the HCSA Procurement Leaders Award.
Andy Baker from South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System (ICS) was awarded Highly Commended for the Unsung Hero Award in recognition of his work setting-up the pandemic stock at the Sheffield’s FlyDSA Arena which includes around 2000 pallets worth of items such as clinical gowns, face masks and hand sanitiser; he was also a recent finalist in the Unsung Hero Procurement category at the Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) Awards.
Doncaster and Bassetlaw, in collaboration with a number of other Trusts in South Yorkshire and the wider Yorkshire area, were also nominated for the work done on a collaborative agency contract that has the potential to save significant costs for individual Trusts over the next four years.
The Health Care Supply Association (HCSA) is a registered charity within the UK and promotes the work of procurement and supply chain staff at all levels in healthcare
Throughout the pandemic, procurement teams from South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw ICS worked round-the-clock – often seven days a week - to ensure that all hospitals in the area had required levels of stock. This included sourcing over 52 million items of PPE for use across South Yorkshire & Bassetlaw health and social care organisations.
The vast supply of PPE including clinical-grade masks, gowns and face masks enabled all of South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw’s health partners to have rapid access to emergency stock holding of PPE for future need, both in terms of managing potential large-scale outbreaks of Covid-19, but also to support NHS’ winter preparedness plans.
The NHS in the North Excellence in Supply awards celebrate inspirational examples of businesses, third sector organisations and the NHS working together to improve patient care and support health and care staff during COVID-19.
The HCSA awards celebrate excellence in procurement and supply chain departments across the UK, showcasing best practice and achievement in procurement management and governance.
This follows on from recent nominations at Rotherham Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Proud 2020 Awards, recognising Head of Procurement for Rotherham and Programme Director for Procurement at South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System, Paul Ralston, and the Procurement Team as finalists.