Supply and logistics operations – business as usual plus COVID-19

HealthShare Victoria’s (HSV’s) Tullamarine Distribution Centre (DC) supply chain team continues to focus on service delivery for our seven major health service customers. Performance tracking and improvement can be seen with the team’s fill rate – the percentage of products delivered to HSV’s health service customers when requested – exceeding 96 per cent. Less than four per cent of items are on backorder.

Key points:

• HSV has procedures in place to prevent and respond to COVID-19 transmission risks in delivering essential goods to Victorian hospitals from our distribution centres.
• Contactless deliveries are in place at health service drop-off and collection points.
• Scenario testing has shown that HSV’s COVID-safe procedures and protocols are robust and ensure there is no impact on deliveries to health services.

Since July, the team has also picked and packed 263,000 product lines, an increase on 2020 figures. The team is starting to see savings and identify further opportunities from HSV’s bulk purchasing model and as HSV finetunes our benefits reporting framework.

The Tullamarine and Derrimut DC teams have also demonstrated an operational resilience by putting in place a pandemic response team and process and enacting that with two specific events.

COVID-19 pandemic response

HSV has completed an on-site vaccination program for all DC employees and established workplace ‘bubbles’ at both sites to ensure our warehouse and administrative teams remain separate.

An infection control program is in place, including Level 2 face masks to be worn at all times, hand sanitisers and disinfectant wipes for HSV’s drivers and DC storepeople, together with expert mask fitting training.

On site at hospital locations, HSV drivers support contactless deliveries by using QR codes and the need to enter hospital facilities by using a single drop-off point for unloading goods away from patients or employees.

HSV has undertaken scenario testing of our business continuity response to COVID-19 transmission risks. The testing has confirmed that comprehensive preventative measures are in place to ensure ongoing supplies of essential health service goods to multiple hospital site wards and departments from our DC.

“Maintaining robust safety measures on site and ensuring COVID-safe operations at our DC locations is our priority,” says HSV Director Customer Engagement Alfred Matthews.

“Our recent scenario testing showed we were well-prepared, which was a good thing as our response plan was immediately called up twice – once at each DC – in responding to two potential COVID-19 cases where we were fortunately able to maintain supplies to health services, and importantly, keep our people safe.”

HSV’s logistics team works across multiple health service sites and we have in place robust precautions to minimise the risk of cross-contamination and avoid any disruption in the supply of medical consumables for our customers.

“The standard procedures and strong communication protocols we have in place enable us to maintain our usual supply delivery schedules without hiccup and ensure health services get the essential items they need,” Alfred says.

For more information, contact a HSV Customer Relationship Manager or the HSV helpdesk on (03) 9947 3700 or email helpdesk@healthsharevic.org.au.