The Arden & GEM procurement team has been successfully shortlisted in three categories for the CIPS Excellence in Procurement Awards 2020.
These Awards - which have evolved from 20 years of the CIPS Supply Management Awards – are respected as a benchmark for
excellence and seen as the most prestigious recognition in the procurement and supply chain profession.
The first project, shortlisted in the Public Procurement Project of the Year category, was to improve the quality of life
for adults with chronic pancreatitis, and was delivered in partnership and on behalf of NHS England.
For individuals experiencing severe pain due to chronic pancreatitis, complex surgery to remove the pancreas can be the
only option to improve quality of life. However, this procedure also removes the cells that produce insulin which then need
to be transplanted back into the patient to avoid severe diabetes. This highly specialist treatment requires providers with
appropriate expertise. NHS England partnered with NHS Arden & GEM’s procurement team to engage with the market and design
an effective procurement strategy. Our public procurement project resulted in successfully appointing four centres who are
now delivering the highest quality of care to patients.
The second project, also delivered in partnership with NHS England, was to transform the lives of babies with spina bifida
through pioneering prenatal surgery, and was shortlisted in the Best Collaborative Teamwork Project category.
When NHS England Highly Specialised Commissioners sought to establish a service to provide pioneering prenatal surgery for
foetuses with open spina bifida, a collaborative procurement project with NHS Arden & GEM CSU was initiated. Based on
trust, transparency, and engagement, the multidisciplinary project group successfully co-designed and delivered a service
model and procurement strategy to appoint two specialist providers for this complex procedure, including an overseas
provider. Six surgeries have already been undertaken, which will have a transformative impact on the lives of babies and
their families.
The third shortlisting was in the Procurement Team of the Year – Small Organisation category.
With the healthcare market constantly responding to an increasing demand for services, Arden & GEM’s procurement team works
with 25 health and care commissioners, supporting them to deliver value for money while improving outcomes for patients. By
redesigning our operating model, repositioning the procurement function, training and upskilling team members and
undertaking the CIPS Procurement Excellence Programme, we have improved efficiency, increased capability, exceeded
expectations for customer satisfaction scores and facilitated £142.5m in savings for our clients. This has ultimately
benefitted patients with a wide range of conditions, from treatments for rare cancers to life-changing surgery for deaf
children.
“We are absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted in three categories for this year’s CIPS Excellence in Procurement Awards. This is the highest recognition of both the expertise and professionalism of our staff, and the ambition of our clients.
The shortlisted projects often involved navigating complex procurements, and all were designed to make a real difference for patients and citizens.”
Warren Simms, Director of Procurement at Arden & GEM
Winners of the CIPS Excellence in Procurement Awards will be announced at a free digital event on Wednesday 16 September 2020.