Following the discontinuation of several high-usage suture products by their incumbent supplier, South Yorkshire Integrated Care System (ICS) were faced with a challenge:
How to ensure continuation of the supply of sutures to avoid any disruption to emergency and elective patient care, whilst maintaining clinical standards and addressing significant cost pressures.
Working together, procurement and clinical teams identified an opportunity to switch to clinically equivalent alternatives through our Wound Closure Framework Agreement. This approach ensured quality, compliance and resilience, while delivering significant value for the system.
Building on the success of a previous Yorkshire trust that transitioned its absorbable and non-absorbable suture portfolio in 2014, South Yorkshire ICS partnered with Assut UK Limited, a trusted Yorkshire based supplier offering a full range of absorbable and non-absorbable sutures that matched material and needle specifications. This collaboration guaranteed reliable supply and supported elective recovery objectives post-COVID-19.
The success of the initiative created £553,000 in savings and has since led to its adoption by two other NHS trusts.
This case study highlights the value of collaborative procurement and agile decision-making in supporting efficiency, system-wide across the NHS. ICS-led collaboration mitigates risk and supports financial sustainability.
*While this example reflects one trust’s experience, other approved products are available through our frameworks.
These findings are aligned to a specific product / range. We are committed to being supplier agnostic. There are other products in the category or product taxonomy which may be of interest.
Date: 10 December