Running a care home group can sometimes feel like trying to complete a jigsaw puzzle with pieces from five different boxes. One invoice from here, three deliveries from there, and an urgent call from somewhere else because the hoist parts didn’t arrive on time. It’s not just inconvenient, it’s inefficient. And when you’re responsible for multiple care homes, those small inefficiencies add up fast.

That’s where consolidating your procurement under one trusted supplier makes all the difference.

Why Fragmented Procurement Creates Frustration

Many care home operators manage supplies from a long list of vendors, one for cleaning, another for medical consumables, a few for furniture, and perhaps several more for mobility and safety equipment. On paper, it can seem like a flexible and cost-effective way to buy, but in reality, this fragmented approach often leads to unnecessary complexity, miscommunication, and wasted time.

When every supplier has their own process, portal, and contact person, your team ends up juggling emails, phone calls, and purchase orders just to get the basics done. Managers spend hours cross-checking deliveries, updating spreadsheets, and chasing missing items. It’s a daily drain on efficiency, one that distracts your staff from what really matters: caring for residents.

1. Fragmented invoicing

Each supplier sends separate invoices, on different schedules, in different formats. Some arrive by post, others by email or portal, and every one needs reconciling. When multiplied across multiple sites, this can create a mountain of administrative work, with finance teams constantly playing catch-up.

2. Inconsistent delivery and stock levels

Different lead times, delivery days, and product ranges make it difficult to keep stock levels consistent. One home might be running low on hygiene products while another has a cupboard full of extras. This lack of coordination not only disrupts operations but can also impact compliance when essential items are unavailable at short notice.

3. Overordering and wasted spend

Without a centralised system to monitor usage, it’s easy for individual homes to order more than they need, “just in case”. The result? Overstocked cupboards, expired products and unnecessary costs that quietly eat into budgets. Over time, this fragmented process can significantly inflate your overall spend.

The reality is, most care groups don’t set out to make procurement complicated, it simply evolves that way as they grow. But managing dozens of suppliers across multiple sites eventually becomes unsustainable. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common challenges we hear from care groups across the UK, and it’s exactly the problem Berwick Care was built to solve.

The Case for Consolidation

Partnering with a multiple site care home supplier simplifies your entire operation. By bringing all purchasing under one umbrella, you gain transparency, control and confidence.

Berwick Care’s approach to group purchasing gives care homes a smarter way to buy, one that supports your staff and your bottom line.

Here’s how:

Centralised ordering

Instead of managing multiple supplier relationships, everything is handled through one consistent point of contact. Orders for equipment, furniture and consumables can be placed through our Core Ordering Portal, built specifically for care home groups.

Streamlined invoicing

One consolidated monthly invoice replaces stacks of paperwork. That means fewer admin hours, easier audits and cleaner reporting across your organisation. Invoices can also be provided in formats compatible with your finance software, allowing direct import and removing the need for manual data entry.

Reliable stock control

Our system helps prevent overordering and ensures that every home gets what it needs, when it needs it. You’ll also have visibility of inventory levels across sites, so reordering becomes proactive rather than reactive.

Consistency across locations

From hygiene products to furniture and mobility aids, we make sure every site is stocked with the same trusted quality. That uniformity helps maintain brand standards and simplifies training for staff.

Digital Tools That Make Procurement Easier

Modern care home management deserves modern tools. That’s why we developed our Core Ordering Portal, a digital platform designed to make procurement faster, smarter and stress-free, accessible anytime via browser or dedicated app.

With features such as pre-approved product lists, order tracking and spend analytics, you’ll gain full visibility across all your homes. It’s perfect for those managing group purchasing care homes and looking to streamline procurement without compromising on quality or compliance.

Our clients tell us that the portal has transformed the way they operate, cutting admin time, reducing spend and giving them the breathing space to focus on what really matters: exceptional care.

Why Berwick Care?

With 25 years of experience supporting the UK’s care sector, we understand that running multiple homes is no small feat. Our goal is to simplify the process, whether you’re ordering bulk care home supplies UK-wide or setting up procurement systems for a new group.

Our team offers:

  • Expert advice from specialists who understand your industry inside out.

  • Direct access to support, no chatbots or endless forms.

  • Free training on product use, compliance and auditing.

  • Reliable deliveries and easy returns through our national network.

We’re more than a supplier, we’re your partner in creating smoother, more efficient operations.

Ready to Simplify Your Procurement?

If fragmented ordering and endless admin are slowing your team down, it’s time to make a change. With Berwick Care’s full-service supply and digital tools, you can bring clarity, consistency and confidence to every site in your group.

Book a discovery call today — let’s take the complexity out of care home procurement, together.