Case Studies

Client Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust – Winner of the NHS Estates ‘Excellence in Hospital Catering’ Award 2002 and highlighted by the Audit Commission for its implementation of Supply Direct technology Facility Northampton Hospital – a 700-bed acute district general hospital

Administrators at Northampton General Hospital were operating a complicated system for ordering catering provisions for patients which involved as many as 20 different suppliers.

But although the Trust team knew that just one supplier was needed, it was unsure where to find one – or even if such a service existed.

Supply Direct was invited to operate the Supply Direct online service for an initial 12 month period in 1998 and then went on to tender for the contract officially–which it won and has since retained.

“The trial was a great learning process for both Supply Direct and ourselves,“ explains Charles Abolins, Director of Facilities at Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. “Since then we have gained full confidence in this method of procurement.The company’s attention to detail and determination to provide high quality service and produce are second to none. Supply Direct was able to develop the system so that it was completely customised to suit our needs.”

Supply Direct’s browser-based Interchef software enables Northampton General’s catering manager to track orders, check stock levels, delivery dates and invoices.The system also automatically places orders as stock levels decrease.

This is just part of a revolution in patient catering at Northampton General where innovative, three week menu cycles and a commitment to raising quality levels have earned it a coveted ‘Excellence in Hospital Catering’ award for 2002.

Separation of costs and significant improvements in production control have also led to Supply Direct’s recommendation by the Audit Commission in its ‘acute hospital portfolio’ published in September 2001.

Client Newham Community Health Services NHS Trust Facility Plaistow Hospital including a 90-bed centre for the elderly, a Day Centre plus NHS Trust HQ

With pressure mounting to implement catering reforms as outlined in The NHS Plan, Newham Community Health Services NHS Trust found itself looking at ways it could make a start, by saving money on catering, as well as simultaneously boosting quality and efficiency.

The Trust chose to trial Supply Direct following a comprehensive review of all catering operations.

Plaistow Hospital catering manager Florence Looi now orders all her supplies through Supply Direct in terms of portions required on a weekly basis, two weeks in advance.This cuts down wastage to Supply Direct’s target of just 3% – well below the NHS Trust average of 10–12%.The Trust is also now benefiting from higher quality food produced from supplies sourced at very keen prices.

“I could never get those discounts on my own,” says Trust facilities manager Lin White,“we’re not big enough.And Supply Direct takes all the hassle out of my job by chasing whatever hasn’t turned up.”

In addition to supplying food, Supply Direct audits all food producers used ensuring that they meet strict hygiene requirements.White estimates that this alone saves her 10 working days. Supply Direct has also been involved advising on the implementation of new NHS Plan menus in the particular context of catering for Plaistow Hospital’s elderly patients.

Client Planshore Homes Facilities four nursing homes for the elderly in Essex and Surrey catering for 150 residents

Managing catering operations efficiently and cost effectively at four Planshore Homes nursing homes located in Essex and Surrey is naturally a top priority for General Manager Amish Patel and his catering staff.

But traditional, multi-supplier methods were making it hard to identify a daily catering cost per individual resident. While the task of handling deliveries and associated admin from many different sources was becoming a time consuming job in itself.

“Rather than have five different suppliers, I wanted one company to be solely responsible for deliveries taking place,” says Patel. “So if any ingredients failed to arrive, I’d have just one call to make.”

Amish Patel found just what he was looking for in early 2002 when he chose to implement Supply Direct online in four of the nursing homes for which he is responsible.

“I was aware there was some useful catering management software out there in the market place,” continues Patel, “but not a system that could also order and arrange delivery for my supplies. Supply Direct does just that and offers the added advantage of meeting strict Health and Safety requirements ‘all in one go’ – as well as enabling good stock control.”

In spite of the fact that using the Supply Direct system represented a big change, Patel’s team of chefs could see the benefits and took to it quickly.

“It gives us peace of mind – with no more worries about ever being short of supplies. Our chefs also now have more time on their hands to try new ideas, prepare meals and spend more quality time with the residents. It ultimately means a much better level of patient care.And, at the end of the day, I know my £2 catering budget per resident really does mean £2.”

Client Cornelius Vermuyden School and Arts College, Canvey Island, Essex Facilities Canvey Island Infant and Juniors plus Lubbins Primary School, Canvey Island, Essex

When Essex LEA severed its contract with a major national caterer in early 2004, Canvey Island Infants and Juniors and Lubbins Primary School urgently needed a new solution.

They found it in the shape of Lorraine Harding, catering manager at the nearby Cornelius Vermuyden School and Arts College. Nick had come across Supply Direct while sourcing a cashless swipecard system for his own site and offered to take over the ordering and purchasing for the two primaries using Supply Direct’s Interchef system.

“Without Supply Direct we just wouldn’t have been able to manage it,” says Nick.“When you buy in at a per-plate price you can forecast wastage and control your stock much more accurately than if you were buying individual items.”

Canvey Island Infants and Juniors feeds 190 children daily (300 on Fridays) while Lubbins requires up to 150 meals each day.The respective cooks call through their requirements to Parker and his team who handle all administration on the schools’ behalf online – including invoice processing.

“With Supply Direct we sort out the menu, ordering and purchasing and put in a standing order we can change on a daily basis,” says Nick. “For example, during a recent art week we produced Indian food for Indian art day and a Chinese-style menu when the children did Chinese paper making the next.The catering department is becoming more involved with the school.”

As well as broadening variety, the Interchef system has boosted quality without increasing costs to pupils. Its greater efficiency enables the cooks to spend 63p per plate on food compared to an industry average of just 40p.

“Supply Direct offer a lot of practical help,” adds Lorraine Harding. “They get involved at shop floor level in the kitchen working with the staff. Before, the cooks were just taking things out of boxes. Now, they’ve got more time to do what they are employed to do – which is cook.”