Thank You - Procurement and Supply Chain Team

There are 90 individual people to thank in our Procurement and Supply Chain Team.

These are the people who look after the procurement and supply of all the goods and services needed by our Trust - goods and services that are worth somewhere in the region of £400 million each year. 

The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), that has been the subject of so much national focus in recent weeks, normally comes in regularly, in small quantities, via the national NHS Supply Chain service, and would not usually be a significant element of what they do. 

However, it was clear from the start of the COVID-19 crisis that supplies of PPE and other clinical consumables were going to be of paramount importance - and they have had to focus their whole team on sourcing and securing supplies of these goods.

The Strategic Sourcing Team has been working full-time securing PPE supplies and other services such as ICT that were urgently required as part of our response. The supply chain teams on site have been working flat out ensuring these supplies get to the clinical teams when they need them - and that they don't run out.

Director of Procurement and Supply Chain Gary Welch says:

"I am immensely proud of the team and the way they have responded. The team has always worked very closely with our clinical colleagues - but the COVID-19 crisis has made that an even closer working relationship.

"I think they are feeling tired but proud of what they have achieved; and very proud to have played a part in supporting our fabulous clinical teams."

The team has already received a lot of positive feedback and messages of thanks, including from OUH Chief Executive Officer Dr Bruno Holthof, Chief Medical Officer Prof Meghana Pandit and Chief Nursing Officer Sam Foster. The clinical teams in particular have also sent messages of thanks.

OUH Chief Financial Officer, Jason Dorsett says:

"Our front line staff could not do the work they do without the efforts of Gary and his team, who have been working around the clock to ensure our nurses and doctors have the vital equipment they need. 

"Our Procurement and Supply Chain Team has always been an essential part of our Trust, and never more so than during this extraordinary period."

Thank you all so very much for what you do.