CEVA Logistics in the UK has been awarded a contract by NHS Scotland National Procurement to distribute consumables to hospitals throughout Scotland.

The operation will roll out over the next 12 months and CEVA will deliver consumable materials to up to 40 main hospitals in Scotland by the end of 2008.

CEVA explained that NHS Scotland National Procurement was an NHS Scotland (National Health Service for Scotland) central service, supporting the 15 health boards in Scotland. "Until about two years ago, each of these boards was responsible for its own sourcing of consumable items such as hand towels, sanitary items, plastic bottles and tubes," it stated.

Two years ago, continued CEVA, NHS Scotland decided it was more efficient and cost-effective to offer the boards a central purchasing and sourcing function for certain product categories and set up an NDC (National Distribution Centre) at Larkhall, just south of Glasgow, from where CEVA managed its distribution contract

Source Transport Intelligence