A NATIONAL conference organised by the Trust’s supplies department to examine the benefits of e-commerce has raised a £17,500.The money has been donated to cardiology service within Leeds General Infirmary, which was the first area to experience e-commerce services within the Trust.

Keith Lilley, former head of supplies, was keen to ensure that the benefits of the conference were shared with cardiology, to invest directly back into patient care.

John Perrins, senior consultant within cardiology supported the event with a presentation on how e-commerce has changed the service delivery of procurement for cardiology. The £17,500 has been used for the purchase of new lead aprons. CD players have also been bought which are used to help relax patients during local anaesthetic procedures.

Stacey Hunter as cardiology cathlab manager said: "The project has been a great success and we have received tremendous support from supplies. During a recent tendering exercise which included all tachi-cardia and disposable cardiology products the e-commerce project has helped secure savings worth

hundreds of thousands of pounds. The contribution of these funds will help considerably in delivering our services for the benefits of patients."

John Perrins expressed his thanks to all those supplies staff involved in delivering procurement services. "It’s great to see the income from the

conference being directed toward patient care, this can only help build our relationship and understanding with supplies colleagues and the partnership, which has developed over the last few years," he said.

A total of 268 delegates attended the conference many travelling from around theworld including the United States in the West and Singapore in the East.

Conference speakers included the chairman of Johnson & Johnson Medical Systems Curt Selquist, the European President for Boston Scientific Michelle Darnaud, Health Minister Lord Philip Hunt and the Trust’s chief executive Neil McKay.