FOI/25/259

Request

 

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information from your Trust.

Inventory Management Systems (IMSs) are digital solutions designed to track, manage, and optimise the inventory of clinical supplies within healthcare settings, such as NHS Trusts. An IMS provides real-time visibility over a range of supplies, from consumables to high-cost implants, ensuring that critical items are available when needed while minimising waste and costs. IMS solutions often integrate with other systems to enhance efficiency, support compliance with regulatory standards, and streamline workflows, contributing to improved patient care and operational outcomes.

Please may you provide me with answers to the following:

1. Does your Trust use an Inventory Management System (IMS)?

1. If ‘Yes,' which company supplies this?
2. If ‘No, do you have plans to procure an IMS within the next three years?

 

If the answer to Question 1 was yes, then:

2. Which company supplies the IMS?
3. When was this system implemented?
4. When was the most recent upgrade or change?
5. Did you procure this system independently, through NHS Supply Chain, or through some other route (please specify)?
6. Did the Trust use a different IMS prior to the current one? If so, please specify the previous system(s) and how long were they used for?
7. What are the key differences between the current IMS and any previous IMS in terms of functionality, ease of use, and integration with other Trust systems?
8. Does the current system manage the following:

8. 1. High-cost implants (e.g., cardiac pacemakers, hip and knee replacements, spinal fusion devices)
   2. Consumables (e.g., scalpels, blood vials, swabs)
   3. Human tissue (e.g., corneal tissue, skin grafts, bone grafts, heart valves)
   4. Other (please specify)

9. Does your IMS integrate with other Trust software (e.g., EPR, procurement platforms)? If yes, which?
10. What primary benefits has the Trust observed with the current IMS (e.g., cost savings, efficiency gains, regulatory compliance)?
11. Do you believe that you are receiving/expect to have received by the contract end good return on investment from this IMS?
12. What are the main challenges or limitations experienced with the system?
13. Does the Trust have plans to upgrade or replace the IMS within the next three years?
14. What new capabilities/improvements/features would be a priority in future IMS procurement (e.g., enhanced traceability, asset or human tissue tracking)?
15. Who is the best person within the Trust to speak to about IMS systems?

If the answer to Question 1 was no, then:

16. Do you have plans to procure an IMS within the next three years?

Please provide the information in an email, Microsoft Excel, or Microsoft Word document (whichever is most convenient).

Response

This would be Nil Information – Thank you for your email. CLCH is not an Acute Trust, there is no Inventory Management System.