News

NHS is wasting £1 Billon a year on supplies

The NHS is wasting more than £1 billion of taxpayers’ money a year as managers spend vastly differing amounts on the same supplies, the head of a government backed healthcare efficiency drive has claimed.

John Neilson, managing director of NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS), said cash was being needlessly squandered by health trusts who are paying multiple prices for identical equipment – ranging from stationery to surgical instruments.
He also claimed that millions could be saved by outsourcing more NHS administration overseas to countries such as India.

In an interview with The Times, Mr Neilson said: “It’s scary. We actually have multiple prices being paid for the same item in the same trust, in the same month.”
He claimed that NHS trusts were routinely paying as many as 19 different prices for the same pacemaker, wasting up to £750 a time.

And he said a host of other equipment such as computers were being bought at needlessly high prices – wasting around 12% of the NHS’s purchasing budget.
Mr Neilson said the offenders ranged from family doctors to elite foundation hospitals and that trusts across the country were also buying a “bewildering” amount of different equipment to do the same jobs.

The health service spends around £13 billion a year on buying equipment.
“If you talk about 12% of that, it takes us into the low billions,” added Mr Neilson. “They haven’t got their purchasing under control at all.”

Statistics showed that 18 NHS trusts paid 22 different prices for a J&J Linear Cutter surgical tool, with the cost ranging from an average £403, to a minimum £289.
There were also 10 different prices paid for Huntleigh flowtron boots – which prevent DVT – with 17 trusts forking out an average of £2,002. However the lowest price paid was just £482.

Mr Neilson said vast amounts of money could be saved if health managers worked together to standardise equipment and exploit the bulk buying power of the NHS.
“Out of 130 trusts we work with, only 30 of them buy the most commonly bought item. And that item is a Dell PC. Even if they all bought the same PC, just think of the savings that would produce.”

He also said moving some NHS services overseas would help in the drive to save £20 billion by 2014.
Call centres in India already handle invoices and other administration for some trusts at a fraction of what it would cost in the UK.

But the health chief said there was a “UK sensitivity issue” preventing more outsourcing.
NHS SBS is a joint public-private venture set up in 2005 to get the the best value-for-money by outsourcing NHS administrative functions such as finance, accounting and payroll.

It is tracking the finances of a third of NHS trusts, who are spending £31 billion annually.
A Department of Health spokesperson said NHS SBS initiatives had so far delivered savings of over £50 million, which had been reinvested in frontline patient care.
A spokesman said: “As elsewhere across Government, we are working to use purchasing power to get the best possible deal for the taxpayer. NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts are seeking substantial procurement savings in their planned efficiency savings of up to £20bn over the next four years.

Advantage Business Systems Achieves Microsoft Gold Certification ERP Competency

LONDON, 17TH MARCH, 2011, Advantage Business Systems – a Microsoft Dynamics Gold Certified Partner, who specialises in the supply, implementation and support of Microsoft Dynamics GP (formerly Microsoft Great Plains), Microsoft Dynamics NAV (formerly Microsoft Navision) and Microsoft Dynamics CRM, has achieved Gold Certification for the ERP Competency. This achievement is a direct result of Advantage Business Systems’ team of Microsoft Dynamics Certified resources, customer satisfaction and outstanding delivery of innovative business solutions.

The Microsoft Gold Certification ERP Competency represents organisations and associated individuals who have demonstrated the highest, most consistent capability and commitment within a specific business solution area. These selected Microsoft partners have showcased best-in-class solutions that have undergone a rigorous and auditable approval process to demonstrate value to prospective customers.

To earn Gold Certification, Advantage Business Systems had to meet rigorous standards for the ERP competency, including revenue, service, support and customer satisfaction requirements set forth by Microsoft.

Director of Partner Strategy and Programmes, Microsoft UK, Clare Barclay says: “With a Gold certification for the ERP Competency, Advantage Business Systems has made an investment in developing their capability to deliver an integrated and customised technology solution to support today’s customer demand”

Advantage Business Systems Managing Director, Kim Deere stated: “I am delighted that Advantage Business Systems is one of the first Microsoft Dynamics Partners to achieve the Gold Certification ERP Competency as per the new Microsoft Partner Network Program”. “This further highlights our position in the market place as a leading Microsoft Dynamics Gold ERP provider and ensure customers and prospects are aware of our ongoing commitment to the Microsoft Dynamics portfolio of solutions”.

Advantage Business Systems is dedicated to helping customers find the best solutions and services to accommodate their business needs and further their success, while excelling in customer satisfaction. By collaborating with the teams at Microsoft, Advantage Business Systems maintains a comprehensive understanding of the Microsoft Dynamics platform to provide innovative solutions, services and unparalleled value to Microsoft Dynamics customers.

Advantage Business Systems Named 2010 President’s Club for Microsoft Dynamics

Advantage Business Systems is recognized by Microsoft for commitment to customers.

LONDON, 9TH JUL, 2010: Advantage Business Systems, a Microsoft Dynamics Gold Certified Partner, who specialises in the supply, implementation and support of Microsoft Dynamics GP (formerly Microsoft Great Plains), Dynamics NAV (formerly Microsoft Navision) and Dynamics CRM, has been named the 2010 President’s Club for Microsoft Dynamics. This achievement is a direct result of Advantage Business Systems’ outstanding dedication to customer satisfaction through the delivery of innovative business solutions.

President’s Club for Microsoft Dynamics honors high-performing Microsoft Dynamics partners whose commitment to customers is reflected in their business success and growth. This prestigious group represents the top 5 percent of Microsoft Dynamics partners worldwide. Membership is granted based on their continual, committed efforts aimed at offering solutions that meet the needs of their customers.

This acknowledgment came during the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC), the company’s annual premier partner event, which took place this year in Washington, D.C. WPC provides Microsoft Corp.’s partner community with the largest opportunity to learn about the company’s road map for the upcoming year, establish connections, share best practices, experience the latest product innovations and learn new skills.

“Microsoft is proud to recognise Advantage Business Systems for its outstanding sales achievement,” said Doug Kennedy, vice president of Microsoft Dynamics Partners. “This honor is a direct reflection of Advantage Business Systems’s outstanding group of employees and management team, all of whom should be very proud of this accomplishment. Advantage Business Systems plays a very important role in the growth and success of Microsoft Dynamics.”

Advantage Business Systems is dedicated to helping customers find the best solutions and services to accommodate their business needs and further their success, while excelling in customer satisfaction. By collaborating with the teams at Microsoft, Advantage Business Systems maintains a comprehensive understanding of the Microsoft Dynamics platform to provide innovative solutions, services and unparalleled value to Microsoft Dynamics customers.

Advantage Business Systems provides implementation, training and consultation in the UK for small, midsize and corporate businesses using business enterprise applications. Advantage Business Systems specialises in Microsoft Dynamics GP and Microsoft Dynamics NAV to develop and deploy solutions that help leading global companies across industries, get to market faster and achieve continued success.

Advantage hosts Discover what’s new in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 and Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 RTC to deliver better business insight for the future

May 2010: Advantage Business Systems hosted an exclusive breakfast briefing on: Discover what’s new in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 and Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 RTC to deliver better business insight for the future.

The breakfast briefing, which was hosted at Microsoft HQ Victoria, Cardinal Place proved to be a huge success and provided senior level Finance and IT Directors with an insight into:

• How to improve organisational efficiency, collaboration and performance during a recession from guest speaker – Edward Paice, Harness IT;
• An update on the Microsoft Dynamics roadmap and its future development;
• A technology briefing on Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 ahead of its release;
• A technology briefing on Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 RTC and how individuals can benefit from 21 key functions attune to your particular role;
• A comprehensive document & delivery management solution which fully integrates with Microsoft Dynamics, from solution provider – Equisys;
• How your organisation can seize control of corporate spend with a solution from Proactis;
• A reporting solution which provides rich reporting functionality in Microsoft Excel from Jet Reports;
• How Advantage can support your IT infrastructure requirements with our Managed Services expertise;