In order to ensure that the backlogs in elective medical operations created by the pandemic could be dealt with as quickly as possible by the theatre teams, one southern based Trust decided to investigate the opportunities available from preparing bespoke theatre packs for each planned operation.
The concept is relatively simple, a bespoke pack, prepared in advance, for each elective operation will be picked, packed and available at the theatre on the day of the operation. Clinical staff will no longer spend valuable time in stock rooms, retrieving items before or during operations. All theatre time, all clinical time, all clinical skills will be optimised and focused on the patient and the operation.
But where do you start?
effective Consulting Group worked with the Trust to review Consultant preference cards, previous purchase order records, future theatre demand, inbound flows, inventory levels and hospital processes to develop the outline warehouse storage, picking, packing and delivery to theatre solution. The project team went on to develop a detailed description of the processes involved in the theatre pack operation and the likely annual costs. In fact, enough information to enable the client to visualise the activity, prepare an internal business case and eventually to take on a new warehouse hub that met the size and scale that the new theatre supply activity would need.
As well as improving the overall efficiency of the process this new way of working allows the Trust to focus on improving inventory control, reducing overall costs and freeing vital funds for more improvements.
The theatre supplies hub has recently opened and received the first inbound goods. Best of luck to the team as they work hard to implement this innovative theatre supplies activity.
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