NHS Supply Chain has launched a brand new framework to provide a compliant purchasing route for a wide range of robotic surgical equipment for NHS hospital trusts across England in two surgical settings:
• Minimally invasive surgery
• Spinal and neurological surgery.
The robotic systems within the minimally invasive surgical setting can be used to perform prostate removal, hysterectomies, thyroid cancer removal, gastric bypass and a variety of other surgical procedures.
Benefits for using robotics in surgery include reduced reported postoperative pain, faster recovery time, reduced risk of infection, adhesion formation and postoperative hernias and better cosmetic results for patients, and for customers more effective use of NHS resources and savings for hospitals due to shorter stays. It also provides a safer working position for the surgeon, who controls the movements of multiple robotic arms from a console.
Chris Holmes, Director of Supply Chain said: “This is a first for NHS Supply Chain. The framework is an exciting new development as it encourages the innovative use of technology in surgery in the NHS which has benefits for both patients and hospitals. It also gives trusts more choice of suppliers in a growing market.”
Antonia Marks NHS Supply Chain: Large Diagnostic Capital Equipment including Mobile and Service’s Procurement Director said: “We’re delighted to launch the new robotics framework to our NHS customers, as for the first time it gives a compliant route to market for robots used in surgical procedures saving the NHS precious time and resource. It also provides a wide range of such products at competitive prices, the ability to aggregate spend and maximise savings opportunities for NHS trusts.”
The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has regularly used robotics in surgery, with the clinical team led by Professor Naeem Soomro, Consultant Urologist, Head of Robotic Surgery working in partnership with their procurement team. Owen O’Reilly, their Procurement Manager said: “Robotics in surgery has enabled our trust to adopt robotic surgery widely across no less than eight surgical specialities including colorectal surgery, urology, gynaecology, thoracic, head and neck, hepatobiliary, upper gastrointestinal and knee arthroplasty.
“The use of robots has meant more patients receiving minimal invasive surgery, resulting in patients getting the best surgical care with reduced lengths of stay in hospital, cutting complications and the number of readmissions. It has also led to overall cost savings. Another benefit is it encourages our trust to focus on training future surgical workforce teams who are competent and confident in delivery of robotic surgery across multiple specialities.”
The Robotic Medical Equipment, Associated Accessories and Consumables framework runs for two years with the option to extend for up to a further two years. It is designed to save the NHS time and resource and increase product availability in an innovative and fast-growing market.
The framework includes seven specialist UK, US and Germany-based suppliers which manufacture bespoke robots, with four suppliers producing robots for minimally invasive surgery and another three companies supplying robots for use in spinal and neurological surgery.
Products will usually be purchased on a direct basis with a three to four-month lead in time from order date.
NHS Supply Chain consulted widely with NHS trusts during the development of the tender to ensure it meets customer needs.
