New framework agreement to help NHS trusts 
improve hand hygiene

The contract brings together soaps, moisturisers, alcohol hand rubs and alcohol-free hand rubs for the first time under one single framework agreement. The range of hand hygiene products and the number of suppliers has been extended offering trusts greater choice and significant savings opportunities on a number of product lines.

The specification and process for the tender were put together with input from the Infection Prevention Society and the Royal College of Nursing.

Julie Storr, president of the Infection Prevention Society (IPS) explains: "IPS supports the new Framework Agreement which constitutes an important component of a multimodal behaviour change improvement strategy."

Rose Gallagher, nurse advisor for Infection and Prevention Control at the Royal College of Nursing, added: "We fully support the development of this new framework. It supports healthcare organisations by providing a range of resources needed for staff to perform hand hygiene. We know how important quality products and choice are in enabling hand hygiene and this framework is a positive step forward in assisting this."

A rigorous process of product evaluation into compliance with standards and toxicology was also carried out by the Health Infection Research Laboratory and the Health and Safety Executive Laboratory.

Nicholas Hutton, senior buyer - healthcare acquired infection control at NHS Supply Chain, says: "This contract will make it even easier for NHS trusts to order hand hygiene products, to make savings and will support them in their aim to meet hand hygiene compliance targets. With approximately 250 product lines and three new suppliers on contract, we offer an extensive range of first-line defence products in the fight against infection.”

NHS Supply Chain was formed in 2006 from the NHS Logistics Authority and parts of the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA). It supports the National Health Service (NHS) and other healthcare organisations in England and Wales by providing end to end supply chain solutions. NHS Supply Chain aims to provide over £1 billion of savings to the NHS by 2016.