Horiba Medical and Genmed.me have secured an agreement to supply all equipment and associated services to the haematology departments of the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
The 15-year managed service contract (MSC) includes the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) in Cardiff.
Horiba Medical will provide technical expertise in haematology, as well as its own high-throughput haematology analysers and laboratory automation systems.
As a multi-vendor MSC facilitated by Genmed, Horiba Medical will provide this technical solution across seven specialist areas within other haematology-related services.
In adopting a new MSC approach for the delivery of its haematology services, in partnership with Horiba Medical and Genmed, the health board was looking to achieve three key aims: the delivery of an effective clinical service to patients; value for money; and an excellent long-term working relationship, based on mutual trust and the understanding of all partners' requirements.
In agreeing a specific haematology MSC with Horiba Medical and Genmed, Cardiff and Vale claims that it has accrued a number benefits.
With regard to cost savings, an immediate 17.5 per cent has been saved, since VAT is fully recoverable under HMRC and NHS Compliance Unit guidelines.
The Cardiff laboratories have been adopting a Lean Thinking approach to laboratory logistical management over the past three years.
As part of this, senior laboratory managers visited Horiba Medical's European headquarters in Montpellier, where Lean is actively used in manufacture.
