Sustainability and innovation the focus of new supplier partnership 

Forté Health has joined forces with local surgical supplies company Multigate in a deal that will improve theatre sustainability. 

Starting this month, Multigate is supplying Forté Health with custom procedure packs, many of which are carbon neutral, for staff to take into theatre when preparing for an operation. 

The packs are used for most patients undergoing a surgical procedure in the operating theatre and contain procedure specific drapes and consumables for surgery in one package as opposed to individually wrapped pieces – saving time and reducing waste. 

Aligning with Forté Health’s sustainability values, it was only logical to connect with Multigate, who produces surgical gear in New Zealand, compared to the previous packs the hospital was sourcing from Australia, says Forté Health’s Inventory Manager Karen Morris. 

“We looked at our whole supply chain and the distance that items were traveling to get to us. We wanted to shorten this distance to align with our sustainability practices,” Karen says. 

For Karen, partnering with Multigate is more than just a typical buy and sell relationship. 

“I started working in hospitals probably forty years ago. After a long time away from Healthcare, I returned and was surprised to see that nothing had really changed.” 

“With many suppliers, it was more about buying and selling. It didn’t really feel like a partnership and that’s what was really important to us,” she says. 

“This is the first time since I’ve been back in the industry that I’ve seen what feels like a genuine partnership. I think that’s the difference between Multigate and other suppliers out there. We’re working closely together to come up with new ways of doing things that not only benefit our patients and staff but also the environment.” 

Multigate dedicated a lot of time to visiting Forté on site, integrating themselves into the business to fully understand the needs of staff. The company has even developed a new interactive web-based portal which contains product and sustainability information along with online education for clinical teams. 

“Nothing was off the table in terms of how Multigate could support our business and our staff. They listened to all aspects of the company from procurement and finance through to theatre,” Karen says. 

There were many factors to consider for the products that Multigate was developing for the hospital from the weight of the tools down to more technical elements such as the way the operating gowns are woven. 

“This partnership is about rethinking sustainability. From a partnership perspective we’re all driving to make everything more sustainable. We’ve got the same goals with where we’re heading and what we’re trying to achieve,” Karen says. 

“It’s great to find a brand that aligns with our values.” 

Fotré Health Nurse and Anaesthetic Technician Tanya Power was the clinical lead on the project and worked closely with Karen and Multigate representatives to ensure the custom procedure packs were tailored appropriately for each of the hospital's surgical specialties. 

“These packs assist us clinically by streamlining our setup processes, reducing preparation time and minimising waste, whilst also contributing to a more effective surgical workflow,” Tanya says. 

“This change in supplier is another exciting step in the journey of continuous improvement and reducing our hospital’s environmental impact." 

Multigate Country Manager Mel Slattery says communication and understanding have been crucial for designing and developing packs that meet the needs of the hospital, clinicians and patient outcomes. 

“Multigate have enjoyed working with Forté Health. Sustainability has been front of mind throughout and we have established a true partnership that will continue to grow and mature with our common goals.” 

Find out more about Forté Health’s sustainability journey here.