Specialist healthcare and life science business services organisation Cels has formed the Community Healthcare and Assistive Technology Special Interest Group (CHAT SIG) following requests from its members. Members were keen to find out more information on NHS procurement, which has gone through a great deal of change lately, and potentially link up with other companies in order to deliver a better service.
Objectives were set for the CHAT SIG following consultations with members, which include bringing together companies involved in rehabilitation and other aspects of community healthcare in order to help them to meet potential collaborators. The CHAT SIG will be made up of a mix of private companies, academics and representatives from the NHS and members will find out how the Department of Health & the NHS procurement process is changing and how it will affect them.
The inaugural meeting of the CHAT SIG will take place in January 2012 in Leeds and speakers include Dr. Tim Riley, Chief Executive of Wellstate Group, which includes the strategic procurement consultancy Wellstate Commercial. Tim has an impressive track record of senior management positions within the NHS including Chief Executive of NHS Tameside & Glossop. Tim is in an excellent position to help the Group navigate the NHS approach to procurement and he will deliver a talk at the January meeting on ‘A vision for best practice in NHS procurement.’
Tim comments: “There are a great deal of changes taking place, which could reduce NHS costs and improve front line quality. The CHAT SIG will those companies best positioned to deliver specialist community healthcare to work with the NHS and collaborate in providing improved service.”
The CHAT SIG will focus on creating a forum where companies can hold an informal dialogue with NHS procurement professionals so that both sides can better understand how each functions and what opportunities may exist to make improvements to patient care. At the inaugural meeting the Group will focus on the existing procurement practice that the NHS goes through for rehabilitation services, also known as ‘care pathways’ and will suggest ideas for future improvements as the procurement process changes in the future.
This event is being held in partnership with specialist rehabilitation company Neuro Partners, who provide rehabilitation, support and nursing care for people recovering from conditions such as brain injuries, spinal and neurological conditions.
Open to all, the first meeting of the CHAT SIG which is entitled ‘Industry, NHS & academia - working together to deliver world class care pathways’ takes place on Thursday 26 January 2012 at Weetwood Hall, Leeds. Tickets cost £64.25 per person and can be booked online, click here for details.
