OUR SERVICES
With a large procurement team, we offer a breadth of experience and expertise within our team to support complex procurement at an organisational and regional network level.
Our services include:
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End-to-end procurement advice, expertise and hands-on support for strategic projects provided by a dedicated procurement professional(s).
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Identification and delivery of cost improvement opportunities, working alongside key stakeholders within a specific organisation or spanning across the local health system.
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Development and delivery of detailed Procurement Workplans to support procurement project planning, prioritisation, and progress reporting to key stakeholders.
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Undertake contracting activity including Public Contract Regulations (or changes to public procurement regulations as they become known), mini competitions, direct awards, and the working up of associated contract documentation.
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Vendor engagement and negotiation.
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Key Stakeholder engagement on procurement matters.
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Procurement project management.
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Creating and maintaining accurate and timely Procurement Reporting such as Workplans, Ratification reports and cost-improvement delivery
We can also provide advice and guidance on procurement matters relating to:
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Procurement Strategy
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Sourcing options
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Optimum route to market
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Market conditions
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Governance and compliance
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Legal (where appropriate)
To find out more about our services and how we can support you contact us today
CASE STUDIES
As Procurement and Supply Chain experts, we've been involved in a wide range of projects. We work with NHS Trusts across the Hampshire Isle of Wight region to shape the future of healthcare. Explore some of the projects we have worked on below.
Pathology Laboratory Information Management System
Rapid procurement of a new Pathology Laboratory Information Management System worth £6.3m for 6 local NHS Trusts in less than 2 months. The Challenge Southern Counties Pathology Network (SCP), comprising of 7 local NHS and NHS FT Trusts, needed to procure a new Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) in an extremely short timeframe of approx. 2 months to qualify for £6.3m of national funding. SCP engaged with us to lead on procurement – identifying a compliant route to market, supporting with finalising the LIMS specification, and drawing up and awarding a contract. To qualify for the funding, the contract value had to be invoiced and paid for by the individual SCP member Trusts by the end of the financial year in 2 months’ time. What we delivered • Recognising the urgency, complexity and high level of stakeholder management required for the successful delivery of this project, we mobilised our team rapidly and placed a senior procurement professional with previous experience in regional pathology procurement on this project. • Working with IT and pathology leads spread across 6 of the SCP Trusts, we supported the development and qualification of a common specification of requirements for the LIMS, driving consensus from the individual needs of the member Trusts. • Due to the extremely short timeframe, a competitive tender process would not be viable. Instead, we utilised an existing framework contract to drive a direct award. • Working alongside the project manager, legal team, stakeholders, and supplier we built the LIMS specification into a single contract, whilst also being able to reflect within it, the individual and unique requirements of each of the SCP member Trusts. This single contract supported efficient contract management and delivered best value from the collective economies of scale, whilst fulfilling the bespoke needs of each of the member Trusts. The Result • 10-year, £6.3m contract awarded within 2 months • Our ability to mobilise our team quickly and be responsive to our customer’s needs meant we were able to successfully complete the procurement, achieving contract signature and the transaction by the SCP Trusts within the tight timescale, and thereby meeting the funding requirements. Testimonial "As the programme director for Southern Counties Pathology (SCP) I have worked with WPL for a number of years now and with members of the senior leadership team prior to the formation of WPL. Without a doubt, the speed and agility of the WPL team was critical to the success of SCP in securing national funding for the implementation of a common Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), being only one of a few pathology networks to achieve this in the first wave of funding. The flexibility and clear communication of the WPL senior leadership team really made this procurement achievable and all SCP member Trusts acknowledge that." - Gavin Bennett, Pathology Clinical Services Manager
Pharmacy at Royal Hampshire County Hospital
The pharmacy at Royal Hampshire County Hospital underwent a £4M refurb with Procurement led by WPL. The Challenge Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust (HHFT) needed to build a new £4m Pharmacy at Royal Hampshire County Hospital within a challenging timescale as the existing pharmacy space had deteriorated and changed ownership. HHFT engaged with us to lead the procurement, sourcing a credible, experienced and suitable contractor to complete the works within a challenging 18-month timescale that was during the height of COVID-19 in 2020. In addition, tight scheduling and dovetailing of the build were required to ensure minimal disruption of pharmacy BAU services during the relocation. What we delivered Recognising the unique requirements of estates capital projects in the public sector, as well as the complexity and level of stakeholder management required, we placed one of our experienced procurement managers on this project who brought over 35 years of public sector and estates procurement experience. We worked closely with the multi-disciplinary project team to draw up requirements and specifications for major equipment and ran competitive procedures to enable compliant procurement. A suitable and capable contractor had to be found that could deliver on the high-tech laboratory specifications required, and due to the short timescales, we enabled this through a framework and mini-competition. In addition, we liaised closely with the successful contractors to ensure the effective sequencing of the build and relocation activities to keep disruption to pharmacy services to a minimum. Through negotiations with suppliers, both nationally and locally, we were able to obtain keen pricing on major items of equipment, including high-tech items such as a dispensing robot and carousel which help to provide an efficient and accurate pharmacy service to HHFT staff and patients. The Result One of the most modern, up-to-date and state-of-the-art pharmacies for Royal Hampshire County Hospital, delivered on time and under budget by £400,000 Our experience of estates procurement in the public sector meant we were able to support a complex build project from an early stage through to a successful completion Testimonial "The project's success was attributed to the enthusiasm of all stakeholders. The project team worked tirelessly on getting the design right and selecting a robot which could accommodate any future developments; monitoring every stage of the building and ensuring compliance with standards such as infection control and disabled access. There were a lot of people who brought a range of different skills to this project, including Wessex Procurement Limited, Estates, the Pharmacy team, Finance, IT, Infection Control, Housekeeping, Medical Equipment and Parking. With everyone working together, the result is a Pharmacy Department which we can be proud of." - Alex Whitfield, Chief Executive, Hampshire Hospitals