What makes Bodyguards the UK’s favourite examination gloves?
Inside Hospitals Online spoke to Denise Stapleton, general manager of Bodyguards supplier Medisavers Healthcare Division.
OO “We supply a wide range of examination gloves, surgical gloves, disposable pulp, macerators, face masks, respirators, CSSD consumables, disposable wipes, alcohol hand gel, tourniquets, scrub brushes, wound care packs and dressing aids,” explained Denise. “They’re all high quality products but we’re number one for examination gloves.
OO The scale of the operation is impressive in itself. Every month up to 90 containers packed with Bodyguards products arrive from the Far East manufacturing facility at Medisavers’ dedicated NHS distribution centre where they’re unloaded and quickly palletised to match the processed order requirements, ensuring the regular shuttle of supply chain vehicles is not kept waiting.
OO The Bodyguards-packed vehicles head off to NHS Supply Chain, Welsh Health, Scottish Health and CSA Northern Ireland, delivering to some of the largest medical supply purchasing consortiums and confederations, and the major private hospital groups.
OO “Bodyguards is recognised as a very strong brand,” said Denise. “But our success is down to relationships, backed up by quality and delivery, at an economical price. Our clinical nurse advisors have been with us for a long time. They’re mature professionals, all clinically trained, who understand healthcare needs and work with hospital staff to ensure we meet their requirements.
OO “We’ve always had good prices - the company’s lean and mean. Others may have a higher cost base, but all we need is warehousing and simplicity to deliver quality gloves that are very competitively priced.
OO “But it’s not just examination gloves,” explained Denise, “you’ve always got to have a glove to cover all eventualities - that’s why we’ve got such an extensive range. Bodyguards has a reputation as an innovator too. Our flexibility and ability to make quick decisions means we can look at cost implications and deliver.”
OO Yet, perhaps most of all, healthcare is a people business. It’s easy to appreciate the contribution that Medisavers can bring to a glove supply contract when you consider both the input that the company offers and the knowledge and experience of its clinical nurse advisors.
OO For example, Frances Atkinson RGN, Medisavers’ clinical nurse specialist for the North of England and Wales, who qualified in 1990, was a senior sister in theatres and a leader of an anaesthetic and recovery team at Bradford Royal Infirmary. Her last post, prior to joining Medisavers, was as a manager of the hospital’s intensive care unit.
OO Frances explained: “As clinical nurse advisors we have an empathy with the problems that staff may experience in their practice and understand how latex problems can affect careers and the need to have education available.
OO “We offer support to hospitals and their staff. For example, there’s an RCN accredited presentation ‘Glove and Latex Allergy’ for staff that can go towards their professional development.
OO “We can also undertake glove audits to determine for infection prevention and control what gloves staff are using for what procedures and if they are appropriate. Medisavers has also sponsored study days and staff appreciate that we can answer any issues that arise.”
OO Frances’s colleague, regional sales manager, Liakat Razack (Raz) added: “Customers like working with us because they see that we are straightforward and responsive. They appreciate that we try our very best to accommodate their requests, have good quality products and maintain a very competitive and consistent pricing structure. They also greatly appreciate that we do not come across as aggressive and we are friendly.”
Denise adds: “What makes us number one? It’s quality products and supplies, focused training and a support programme delivered by RGN clinical nurse advisors, a willingness to work in partnership with our customers, competitive pricing and excellent customer support - it all adds up to value for money.”