NHS Supply Chain Unveils Game-Changing Distribution Centre
Procurement and supply chain activities are at the very heart of the NHS, ensuring millions of people receive high-quality care and providing healthcare professionals with the tools necessary to look after their patients.
Responsible for this crucial element of the health service is NHS Supply Chain, which manages the sourcing, delivery and supply of healthcare products, services and food for NHS trusts and healthcare organisations across England and Wales.
Now, the smooth-running of this historic British institution is being assisted by a newly-operational NHS Supply Chain regional distribution centre that will support 115 NHS Trusts.
A more resilient and efficient supply
The new distribution centre, located at Gorsey Point in the North West of England, is set to provide a more resilient and efficient supply of products and medical equipment to hospitals and other healthcare providers across the area.
Andrew New, CEO at NHS Supply Chain, believes it represents a momentous step forward for operations in the North West.
“NHS Supply Chain’s Gorsey Point facility is a major investment in the North West and a significant part of our long-term national growth plans, future-proofing our logistics operation in this part of the country and allowing us to better meet the growing needs of NHS trusts in the region,” he says.
“The purpose-built facility gives us the capacity to store not only a greater level of stock overall but also a broader range of products used by the NHS, boosting the resilience of our supply chain.
"This is something NHS trusts really wanted.”
NHS putting patients first
At 400,000 square feet – the size of six professional football pitches – the Gorsey Point site is around three times larger than the facility it replaces and provides eight times as many pallet spaces, up from 7,500 to 60,000.
The centre is situated on Widnes 400, a major industrial redevelopment, and will support 360 jobs, with the majority of workers relocating from the smaller, previous warehouse in nearby Runcorn.
It will serve 3,500 delivery locations and 18,400 individual requisition points that deliver the products and equipment needed to care for patients across the region.
“Our reason for being is to help the NHS to put patients first,” adds Andrew. “In this case we are delivering on that by working to make sure clinicians can rely on our supply chain to provide the products and equipment they need to do their job in a reliable, clinically-assured and cost-efficient way.”
Gorsey Point is strategically located within three-and-a-half miles of the M62 motorway, five miles from the M56 and close to the access point onto the Mersey Gateway Bridge, which links Runcorn and Widnes.
It benefits from excellent connectivity to the regional motorway network as well as the 3M Rail Freight Terminal at Widnes, Garston Docks, The Port of Liverpool, and Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
NHS leaders speaking at P&SC LIVE London
Andrew New is among the NHS leaders set to speak at Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE London later this year.
Offering a comprehensive learning experience, this rapidly-growing industry event is set to take place at the Business Design Centre on 24-25 September, with delegates attending in person and tuning in virtually from around the world.
On Day 1, Andrew, who joined NHS Supply Chain as CEO 2021, will take to Stage 2 to give a keynote presentation.
Meanwhile, Jacqui Rock, Chief Commercial Officer at NHS England, will present her own keynote on Day 1 of the show over on Stage 1.
Jacqui is a frequent speaker at P&SC LIVE and recently secured top spot in Supply Chain Digital’s Top 100 Women supplement.
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