The Department of Health is seeking views on improving purchasing in the NHS.
It launched a call for evidence at the start of the week and hopes to attract a wide range of responses from industry, academia and the third sector as well as other government departments. The exercise closes on July 27.
Sir Ian Carruthers, chief executive of NHS South of England, is leading the work on behalf of NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson. Carruthers said: ‘Whilst some improvements in NHS procurement are evident, the pace of change is not sufficient to meet the financial challenge facing the NHS.
‘We need more innovative procurement processes and more widespread procurement of innovation. By harnessing relationships with suppliers, the NHS can adopt existing innovations and stimulate new innovation to deliver quality and value for both NHS patients and taxpayers.’
The National Audit Office last year criticised NHS purchasing as fragmented and inefficient, noting that at least £500m could be saved each year.
Last week, Whitehall’s buying office, Government Procurement, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply. This committed both organisations to work together to share knowledge and resources and to explore ways for more civil servants to gain professional purchasing qualifications.
Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude said capable and skilled purchasing professionals were central to the government’s strategy for procurement reform.
