South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust Turns to
Touchstone Group for Top Procurement Performance
17 March 2008 - South Central Ambulance Service
NHS Trust (SCAS) has signed a six-figure deal with the software and
services company, Touchstone Group, to implement the web-enabled
procurement application, PROACTIS.
SCAS was formed in 2006, following the merger
of four individual ambulance trusts. Subsequently, there were four
separate, non-integrated IT systems in use, which made efficient
procurement problematic.
This prompted SCAS to investigate an
e-procurement solution and the organisation turned to Touchstone
Group for expert consultancy. Touchstone Group assessed SCAS’
existing infrastructure and considered its future requirements
before identifying PROACTIS as the solution best able to meet SCAS’
needs.
PROACTIS from Touchstone Group will provide
SCAS with a raft of benefits, including: operational, expenditure
and management control; real-time performance management
information capabilities to help inform the decision-making
processes; and improved working practices to achieve cost savings
that would ultimately benefit patients.
Touchstone Group won the competitive tender
against other Office of Government Commerce-accredited (OGC)
companies because of its extensive product offering and vast
technical expertise. Also key to Touchstone Group’s selection was
its long-standing experience working with public-sector
organisations, affording the company an understanding that SCAS is
accountable for its expenditure and must implement systems that
deliver the best value possible.
According to Charles Porter, Director of
Finance and Estates, PROACTIS will overhaul SCAS’ purchasing and
forecasting procedures and allow the Trust to get the most from it
budgets. Porter has been impressed with the excellent customer
service and technical support from Touchstone Group.
Adrian McNay, Group Board Director, Touchstone
Group, adds: “SCAS represented a significant challenge because we
needed to bring together the disparate procurement practises of
four previously individual trusts and unite them via one online,
scaleable solution.
“Because we have so much experience and
knowledge in this area, we can ensure smooth integration with SCAS’
existing systems, and make sure its core IT systems will not be
disrupted.”